type 2

Type 2 conditional sentence  or second conditional is a conditional sentence  that is used when the result / consequence of the condition has no or little chance of being realized because the condition cannot be fulfilled in the present (present unreal situation) or condition it is difficult to happen in the future.

The condition is in the subordinate clause with the subordinate conjunction "if", while the result / consequence is in the main clause .

Function

The type 2 conditional refers to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable result. These sentences are not based on the actual situation. In type 2 conditional sentences, the time is now or any time and the situation is hypothetical.

Examples

• If the weather wasn't so bad, we would go to the park. (But the weather is bad so we can't go.)
• If I was the Queen of England, I would give everyone a chicken. (But I am not the Queen.)
• If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.
• If I knew where she lived, I would go and see her.
• It is correct, and very common, to say "if I were" instead of "if I was" (subjunctive mood).

Examples

• If I were taller, I would buy this dress.
• If I were 20, I would travel the world.
• If I were you, I would give up smoking.
• If I were a plant, I would love the rain.

In type 2 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would" to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

Examples

• We might buy a larger house if we had more money
• He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.
• If he called me, I couldn't hear.

Formulas for Conditional Sentence Type 2

The conditional clause  (if + condition) uses the simple past tense , while the main clause (result) section uses the modal verb  and the bare infinitive (the infinitive without to ).

complex sentence
subordinate clause (if + condition)	main clause (result / consequence)
if + simple past	would / could / might + bare infinitive

formula and explanation of conditional sentence type 2

If-clause  can be at the beginning or middle of a sentence. When if-clause takes place at the beginning of the sentence, a comma is placed before the main clause . If… not can be replaced by unless .

Were Replacing Was

In type 2 conditional sentences , were is used in place of was even though it uses a singular subject (single subject:  3rd person pronoun  (she, he, it) or noun ). This is to show that the supposition is really just a delusion, because the conditions are unlikely to be met (present unreal situation).

complex sentence
subordinate clause (if + condition)	main clause (result / consequence)
if + S + were	would / could / might + bare infinitive

The present conditional tense

The present conditional of any verb is composed of two elements:
would + the infinitive of the main verb, without "to"

Subject	+ would	+ infinitive
He	would	go
They	would	stay

To Go: present conditional

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative	Interrogative negative
I would go	I wouldn't go	Would I go?	Wouldn't I go?
You would go	You wouldn't go	Would you go?	Wouldn't you go?
He would go	He wouldn't go	Would he go?	Wouldn't he go?
She would go	She wouldn't go	Would she go?	Wouldn't she go?
We would go	We wouldn't go	Would we go?	Wouldn't we go?
They would go	They wouldn't go	Would they go?	Wouldn't they go?

Inverted Word Order on Conditional Sentence Type 2

Inverted word order  means the  verb  appears before the  subject . This condition can occur by removing the word "if" and changing the subject and verb positions . An example is as follows.