Second Conditional: Unreal Situations

“Se eu ganhasse na loteria, eu viajaria o mundo.” The second conditional is how English talks about imaginary, unlikely or impossible situations in the present or future. You will use it to dream, to give advice and to imagine other lives.“Se eu ganhasse na loteria, eu viajaria o mundo.” A segunda condicional é a forma de falar, em inglês, de situações imaginárias, pouco prováveis ou impossíveis no presente ou no futuro. Você vai usá-la para sonhar, dar conselhos e imaginar outras vidas.

A2 Form and basic use

The second conditional has two parts. The if clause uses the past simple, and the main clause uses would + base verb. The past form does not mean past time here: it shows that the situation is not real.A segunda condicional tem duas partes. A oração com if usa o past simple, e a oração principal usa would + verbo na forma base. A forma do passado não indica tempo passado aqui: ela mostra que a situação não é real.

• If I had more free time, I would learn to play the guitar. (Se eu tivesse mais tempo livre, aprenderia a tocar violão.)
• If we lived near the beach, we would go surfing every weekend. (Se a gente morasse perto da praia, iria surfar todo fim de semana.)
• If my sister spoke English, she would get a better job. (Se a minha irmã falasse inglês, conseguiria um emprego melhor.)
• If it didn’t rain so much, I wouldn’t take the bus. (Se não chovesse tanto, eu não pegaria ônibus.)

In speech, would is usually contracted to ‘d, and would not becomes wouldn’t. The two clauses can change places: when if comes first, we use a comma; when the main clause comes first, there is no comma.Na fala, would normalmente vira ‘d, e would not vira wouldn’t. As duas orações podem trocar de lugar: quando o if vem primeiro, usamos vírgula; quando a oração principal vem primeiro, não há vírgula.

Example	Português	Form
If I were rich, I’d buy a farm.	Se eu fosse rico, compraria uma fazenda.	affirmative
She wouldn’t work so hard if she didn’t need the money.	Ela não trabalharia tanto se não precisasse do dinheiro.	negative, main clause first
What would you do if you found a wallet?	O que você faria se encontrasse uma carteira?	wh- question
Would you move abroad if you had the chance?	Você se mudaria para o exterior se tivesse a chance?	yes/no question

Questions and short answers

To ask, put would before the subject. Short answers use would or wouldn’t only, never the main verb.Para perguntar, coloque would antes do sujeito. As respostas curtas usam apenas would ou wouldn’t, nunca o verbo principal.

• Would you live in São Paulo if you could choose? Yes, I would. (Você moraria em São Paulo se pudesse escolher? Sim, moraria.)
• What would you say if a famous singer called you? (O que você diria se um cantor famoso te ligasse?)
• Would your parents be angry if you failed the test? No, they wouldn’t. (Seus pais ficariam bravos se você reprovasse na prova? Não, não ficariam.)

B1 If I were you, could and might

In the second conditional, we can use were for all persons: If I were, if she were, if it were. Was is also common in informal speech, but were is preferred in writing and in exams, and it is obligatory in the fixed expression If I were you.Na segunda condicional, podemos usar were para todas as pessoas: If I were, if she were, if it were. Was também é comum na fala informal, mas were é preferido na escrita e em provas, e é obrigatório na expressão fixa If I were you.

• If I were you, I’d talk to the coordinator. (Se eu fosse você, falaria com a coordenadora.)
• If it were cheaper, more students would join the exchange program. (Se fosse mais barato, mais alunos participariam do intercâmbio.)
• I wouldn’t buy that phone if I were you. The battery is terrible. (Eu não compraria esse celular se fosse você. A bateria é péssima.)

Could and might instead of would

In the main clause, could means “would be able to” (poderia, conseguiria), and might means “would perhaps” (talvez). In the if clause, could means “was able to” (pudesse, conseguisse).Na oração principal, could significa “would be able to” (poderia, conseguiria), e might significa “would perhaps” (talvez). Na oração com if, could significa “was able to” (pudesse, conseguisse).

• If I had a car, I could drive you to the airport. (Se eu tivesse carro, poderia te levar ao aeroporto.)
• If you practiced every day, you might pass the TOEFL. (Se você praticasse todo dia, talvez passasse no TOEFL.)
• If I could speak Japanese, I would work in Tokyo. (Se eu soubesse falar japonês, trabalharia em Tóquio.)

First or second conditional?

The choice depends on how real the situation feels to the speaker. The first conditional (if + present, will) is for real possibilities. The second conditional (if + past, would) is for situations that are imaginary, impossible or very unlikely.A escolha depende de quão real a situação parece para quem fala. A primeira condicional (if + presente, will) é para possibilidades reais. A segunda condicional (if + passado, would) é para situações imaginárias, impossíveis ou muito improváveis.

Situation	Example	Português
likely (first)	If it rains tomorrow, we’ll cancel the barbecue.	Se chover amanhã, vamos cancelar o churrasco.
unlikely (second)	If it snowed in Salvador, people would be shocked.	Se nevasse em Salvador, as pessoas ficariam chocadas.
impossible now (second)	If I were taller, I’d play volleyball.	Se eu fosse mais alto, jogaria vôlei.
advice (second)	If I were you, I’d apologize.	Se eu fosse você, pediria desculpas.

Common Mistakes

Quick Summary

Use	Example	Português
imaginary present	If I had time, I’d read more.	Se eu tivesse tempo, leria mais.
unlikely future	If I won the lottery, I’d quit my job.	Se eu ganhasse na loteria, largaria o emprego.
question	What would you do if you were me?	O que você faria no meu lugar?
advice	If I were you, I’d rest.	Se eu fosse você, descansaria.
ability / possibility	If I had a car, I could help.	Se eu tivesse carro, poderia ajudar.
real possibility (first)	If it rains, we’ll stay home.	Se chover, vamos ficar em casa.

Practice Time

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Second Conditional Quiz

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