Conditional Sentences Type 2: Usage and Formation

This page delves deeper into conditional sentences, focusing on type 2 conditionals and providing a comparison with type 1 conditionals.

Conditional Sentences Type 2

Conditional sentences type 2 are used when we imagine an action or situation that is unlikely or improbable to happen.

Usage

We use type 2 conditionals to express hypothetical or unlikely situations in the present or future.

Highlight: Type 2 conditionals are used for improbable or unlikely scenarios, distinguishing them from type 1 conditionals which deal with more likely or possible situations.

Formation

The structure of type 2 conditionals is as follows:

• If-clause: Simple past
• Main clause: Would/could/might + infinitive

Example: "If I won $1 million in the lottery, I would buy a big house."

In this example, "won" is in the simple past, and "would buy" is in the main clause.

Highlight: It's important to note that "would" is never used in the if-clause of a type 2 conditional.

Special Case with "Were"

In type 2 conditionals, "were" is often used instead of "was" in the if-clause, especially in more formal contexts. However, "was" is also acceptable in modern English.

Example: "If I were/was a cat / in London..."

Comparison with Conditional Sentences Type 1

To reinforce the understanding of both types, here's a quick comparison:

1. Type 1 (from previous page):

   • If-clause: Simple present
   • Main clause: Will-future, can/must/could/should + infinitive, or imperative
   • Used for likely or possible situations

2. Type 2:

   • If-clause: Simple past
   • Main clause: Would/could/might + infinitive
   • Used for unlikely or improbable situations

Highlight: The key difference lies in the level of probability and the tenses used in each type of conditional sentence.