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If - second conditional

  • Two events: both imagined

  • First event: imagine it has happened (past tense because you imagine it's happened)

  • Second event: what you would do if the first event happened (conditional tense because it follows the first but is not guaranteed to happen)

Second Conditional - Explain

An imagined event that has happened.

if second conditional
if second conditional

An imagined event in the future, in relation to event 1.

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Uses a modal verb because it is not certain to happen. Event 1 is imagined.

Past

Now

Future

Past tense

Conditional tense

If              ,                .

              , if              .

If + subject + past tense verb phrase, modal verb + present tense verb phrase

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Subject + modal verb + present tense verb phrase if + past tense verb phrase

if second conditional
if second conditional
if second conditional

If I went here...

I would eat this.

if second conditional

Past

Now

Future

went to my favourite restaurant

would eat steak

If I went to my favourite restaurant, I would eat steak. 

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I would eat steak if I went to my favourite restaurant. 

If I bought this...