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Expressing unreal, hypothetical or unlikely present and future situations.
Practice: build the sentences →The Second Conditional describes hypothetical, unreal, or unlikely present or future situations and their imagined results.
It is commonly used for imaginary situations, unlikely possibilities, advice, speculation, and hypothetical consequences.
If I had more time, I would learn Japanese.
Если бы у меня было больше времени, я бы учил японский.
Hypothetical present situation and its imagined result.
If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
Если бы я был богат, я бы путешествовал по миру.
Unreal present situation.
If I found a better job, I would move to another city.
Если бы я нашёл работу получше, я бы переехал в другой город.
Unlikely future situation.
The Second Conditional commonly uses the Past Simple in the if-clause and would followed by the base form in the main clause.
For example, If I had more time, I would learn Japanese.
If I had more time, I would learn Japanese.
Если бы у меня было больше времени, я бы учил японский.
Past Simple in if-clause + would + base verb in main clause.
If she knew the answer, she would tell us.
Если бы она знала ответ, она бы сказала нам.
Basic second conditional form.
If they lived closer, we would visit them more often.
Если бы они жили ближе, мы бы навещали их чаще.
Past Simple + would.
The Past Simple is commonly used in the if-clause to create distance from reality rather than to indicate ordinary past time.
For example, If I lived closer, I would visit more often.
If I lived closer, I would visit more often.
Если бы я жил ближе, я бы навещал чаще.
Past Simple creates distance from reality.
If I knew her number, I would call her.
Если бы я знал её номер, я бы позвонил ей.
Past Simple for hypothetical condition.
Would + base verb commonly expresses the imagined result of the hypothetical condition.
For example, If she knew the answer, she would tell us.
If she knew the answer, she would tell us.
Если бы она знала ответ, она бы сказала нам.
Would + base verb for imagined result.
If I had a car, I would drive you home.
Если бы у меня была машина, я бы подвёз тебя домой.
Would in main clause.
The if-clause can come first and is normally followed by a comma.
For example, If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
Если бы я выиграл в лотерею, я бы купил дом.
If-clause first, comma after.
If it were warmer, we would go for a walk.
Если бы было теплее, мы бы пошли гулять.
If-clause first.
The main clause can come first and is normally not separated by a comma before the if-clause.
For example, I would buy a house if I won the lottery.
I would buy a house if I won the lottery.
Я бы купил дом, если бы выиграл в лотерею.
Main clause first, no comma.
We would go for a walk if it were warmer.
Мы бы пошли гулять, если бы было теплее.
Main clause first.
The Second Conditional can describe situations that are contrary to present reality.
For example, If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
Если бы я был богат, я бы путешествовал по миру.
Contrary to present reality.
If she spoke French, she would work in Paris.
Если бы она говорила по-французски, она бы работала в Париже.
Unreal present situation.
The Second Conditional can describe future situations that the speaker considers unlikely or remote.
For example, If I found a better job, I would move to another city.
If I found a better job, I would move to another city.
Если бы я нашёл работу получше, я бы переехал в другой город.
Unlikely future situation.
If we won the competition, we would celebrate for a week.
Если бы мы выиграли соревнование, мы бы праздновали неделю.
Remote future possibility.
The Second Conditional is used to imagine situations that are not presented as real at the time of speaking.
For example, If I lived on Mars, I would need a different way to travel.
If I lived on Mars, I would need a different way to travel.
Если бы я жил на Марсе, мне нужен был бы другой способ передвижения.
Imaginary situation.
If I could fly, I would visit you every weekend.
Если бы я умел летать, я бы навещал тебя каждые выходные.
Hypothetical ability.
Were is traditionally used with all subjects in hypothetical if-clauses, especially in formal English.
For example, If I were you and If she were here.
If I were you, I would apologize.
На твоём месте я бы извинился.
Were with I in hypothetical clause.
If she were here, she would know what to do.
Если бы она была здесь, она бы знала, что делать.
Were with she in formal/hypothetical clause.
The expression If I were you is used to give hypothetical advice.
For example, If I were you, I would talk to the manager.
If I were you, I would talk to the manager.
На твоём месте я бы поговорил с менеджером.
Fixed expression for hypothetical advice.
If I were you, I would not worry about it.
На твоём месте я бы не беспокоился об этом.
Negative advice.
The Second Conditional can be used to give advice by imagining the listener in a hypothetical situation.
For example, If I were you, I would wait a little longer.
If I were you, I would wait a little longer.
На твоём месте я бы подождал немного.
Hypothetical advice.
If I were in your position, I would accept the offer.
На твоём месте я бы принял предложение.
Advice presented hypothetically.
Could can replace would when the hypothetical result concerns ability, opportunity, or possibility.
For example, If we left now, we could catch the earlier train.
If we left now, we could catch the earlier train.
Если бы мы вышли сейчас, мы могли бы успеть на ранний поезд.
Could for hypothetical ability/opportunity.
If I had more money, I could travel more.
Если бы у меня было больше денег, я мог бы больше путешествовать.
Could for hypothetical result.
Might can express a less certain hypothetical result.
For example, If we left now, we might arrive before dark.
If we left now, we might arrive before dark.
Если бы мы вышли сейчас, мы, возможно, приехали бы до темноты.
Might for less certain hypothetical result.
If she knew the answer, she might tell us.
Если бы она знала ответ, она, возможно, сказала бы нам.
Might for uncertain result.
Negative forms can describe hypothetical results that would not occur or would not be possible.
For example, If I lived there, I would not drive every day and If we left now, we could not get there before midnight.
If I lived there, I would not drive every day.
Если бы я жил там, я бы не ездил на машине каждый день.
Negative hypothetical result.
If we left now, we could not get there before midnight.
Если бы мы вышли сейчас, мы не смогли бы добраться туда до полуночи.
Impossible hypothetical result.
Would is not normally used in the if-clause to express an ordinary hypothetical condition.
Use the Past Simple instead: If I knew, I would tell you, not If I would know, I would tell you.
If I knew, I would tell you.
Если бы я знал, я бы сказал тебе.
Correct: Past Simple in if-clause.
If I would know, I would tell you.
Если бы я знал, я бы сказал тебе.
Incorrect: would not used in ordinary hypothetical if-clause.
Would can occur in the if-clause when it expresses willingness rather than ordinary hypothetical time.
For example, If you would listen to me, we could solve the problem.
If you would listen to me, we could solve the problem.
Если бы ты послушал меня, мы могли бы решить проблему.
Would in if-clause expresses willingness.
If she would agree to help, we would finish sooner.
Если бы она согласилась помочь, мы бы закончили раньше.
Willingness in if-clause.
Were to can express a hypothetical or particularly remote future possibility.
For example, If the company were to close, many employees would lose their jobs.
If the company were to close, many employees would lose their jobs.
Если бы компания закрылась, многие сотрудники потеряли бы работу.
Were to for a remote future possibility.
If you were to leave now, you would catch the train.
Если бы ты вышел сейчас, ты бы успел на поезд.
Were to + would.
Were to can make a hypothetical future condition sound more remote or formal than an ordinary Past Simple if-clause.
For example, If the government were to change the law, businesses would have to adapt.
If the government were to change the law, businesses would have to adapt.
Если бы правительство изменило закон, бизнесу пришлось бы адаптироваться.
Were to makes the condition sound more remote/formal.
If he were to resign, the team would need a new leader.
Если бы он ушёл в отставку, команде понадобился бы новый лидер.
Remote hypothetical future.
Be commonly appears as were in hypothetical if-clauses, especially in formal English.
For example, If the situation were different, we would choose another solution.
If the situation were different, we would choose another solution.
Если бы ситуация была другой, мы бы выбрали другое решение.
Were in hypothetical if-clause (formal).
If I were taller, I would play basketball.
Если бы я был выше, я бы играл в баскетбол.
Were with I.
The main clause can contain modal verbs other than would when the intended hypothetical result requires a different meaning.
For example, If I had more money, I could travel more and If she knew the answer, she might tell us.
If I had more money, I could travel more.
Если бы у меня было больше денег, я мог бы больше путешествовать.
Could for hypothetical ability.
If she knew the answer, she might tell us.
Если бы она знала ответ, она, возможно, сказала бы нам.
Might for hypothetical possibility.
The Second Conditional can soften suggestions or criticism by presenting them as hypothetical.
For example, If I were in your position, I would wait before making a decision.
If I were in your position, I would wait before making a decision.
На твоём месте я бы подождал перед принятием решения.
Softened suggestion.
If I were you, I would apologize first.
На твоём месте я бы сначала извинился.
Hypothetical advice.
The First Conditional presents a realistic future possibility, while the Second Conditional presents a more hypothetical, remote, or unlikely situation.
Compare If I have time, I will help you with If I had more time, I would help you.
If I have time, I will help you.
Если у меня будет время, я помогу тебе.
First conditional: realistic possibility.
If I had more time, I would help you.
Если бы у меня было больше времени, я бы помог тебе.
Second conditional: hypothetical/remote.
The Second Conditional generally refers to hypothetical present or future situations, while the Third Conditional refers to unreal past situations.
Compare If I had more money, I would travel more with If I had saved more money, I would have travelled more.
If I had more money, I would travel more.
Если бы у меня было больше денег, я бы больше путешествовал.
Second conditional: present/future hypothetical.
If I had saved more money, I would have travelled more.
Если бы я накопил больше денег, я бы больше путешествовал.
Third conditional: unreal past.
Use the Second Conditional for hypothetical or unlikely present and future situations and use the correct verb forms in each clause.
Common mistakes include using would in the if-clause, confusing was and were in hypothetical clauses, using the First Conditional for remote situations, and confusing the Second and Third Conditionals.
If I were you, I would talk to the manager.
На твоём месте я бы поговорил с менеджером.
Correct second conditional.
If I would be you, I would talk to the manager.
На твоём месте я бы поговорил с менеджером.
Incorrect: would not used in if-clause.
If I was you, I would talk to the manager.
На твоём месте я бы поговорил с менеджером.
Informal; "were" is preferred in hypothetical clauses.
If I had more time, I would have learned Japanese.
Если бы у меня было больше времени, я бы выучил японский.
Incorrect if present hypothetical is intended; this mixes second and third conditional.