Master the second conditional and its variations – what if?

   • Really understand the first condition...   First conditional
Imagine a world where anything is possible, where dreams can shape reality, and where you have the power to explore the hypothetical. That's precisely what the second conditional allows us to do.
The second conditional is like a magic portal into the world of 'what if.' It's a structure we use to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future. It's not about what is happening now, but rather, it's an idea of what could happen under different circumstances.
Let's start with a classic example:
'If I were rich, I would buy a house in Spain.'
Here, we're day-dreaming about the future. Right now, I might not have any money, but in this day-dream, I'm imagining myself with enough money to buy my house in Spain. Perhaps I’ll win the lottery tomorrow?
Now, the second conditional isn't just about dreams and wishful thinking. It's a useful tool that allows us to express not only the imaginary but also the possible and even the contrary to present fact.
1. Imaginary Situations: We often use the second conditional to explore situations that are just in our imagination. For instance:
'If I had a superpower, I would fly to the moon every weekend.'
Here, we're not saying that we have a superpower; we're playing with the idea.
2. Possible Situations: The second conditional can also be used to talk about possible results in the future:
'If it rained tomorrow, we would have to cancel the picnic.'
Here, we're considering a real possibility – rain – and its potential impact on our plans.
3. Contrary to Present Fact: Sometimes, we use the second conditional to express things that are contrary to our current reality:
'If she spoke French, she could communicate with the locals.'
In this case, the reality might be that she doesn't speak French, but we're thinking about the possible benefits if she did.
Now, here's where it gets even more exciting. I explain in the video how we can use different tenses in the second conditional which will help you to sound like a native speaker. And there is an exercise at the end for practise, plus I have a challenge for you this week.
If you would like more help with your English grammar, come over to my channel and subscribe and ring that bell! Thanks.