This is a Learn British English Free lesson where Chris explains the concept and structure of the second conditional in English with examples.
“If I were you, I would (I’d) ask her out.”
Structure: If + subject + verb past tense…, subject + would + verb bare infinitive…
Or: Subject + would + verb bare infinitive… + if + subject + verb past tense…
(I would ask her out if I were you.)
Time: present or future (hypothetical)
Probability: extremely small
First conditional: If it rains tomorrow, I’ll stay inside (50% chance)
Second conditional: I’d stay inside if it were to snow tomorrow (very small chance)
Question for students: “If you were stuck on a desert island, what five things would you choose to have?”
“If I were stuck on a desert island, I would choose…”
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