Using the Second Conditional 

What is the Second Conditional?

The second conditional is a grammatical structure used in English to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future.

How to Structure the Second Conditional

Here's the general structure of the second conditional:

• If clause (conditional clause): If + past simple tense
• Main clause (result clause): Would + base form of the verb

Knowledge Check: The Second Conditional

Instructions: Read each sentence and complete it using the second conditional form of the verb in parentheses.

1. If I (visit) Canada, I (explore) the Rocky Mountains.
2. If she (travel) to Canada, she (try) poutine.
3. If we (go) to Canada, we (take) a boat tour to see Niagara Falls.
4. If they (visit) Canada, they (hike) in Banff National Park.
5. If he (come) to Canada, he (attend) the Calgary Stampede.
6. If you (visit) Canada, you (see) the Northern Lights.
7. If she (travel) to Canada, she (visit) multicultural cities like Toronto and Vancouver.
8. If they (go) to Canada, they (explore) the Canadian wilderness.
9. If we (visit) Canada, we (take) a guided tour of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
10. If he (travel) to Canada, he (sample) maple syrup.

Ready to See the Answers?

Answer Key:

1. If I visited Canada, I would explore the Rocky Mountains.
2. If she traveled to Canada, she would try poutine.
3. If we went to Canada, we would take a boat tour to see Niagara Falls.
4. If they visited Canada, they would hike in Banff National Park.
5. If he came to Canada, he would attend the Calgary Stampede.
6. If you visited Canada, you would see the Northern Lights.
7. If she traveled to Canada, she would visit multicultural cities like Toronto and Vancouver.
8. If they went to Canada, they would explore the Canadian wilderness.
9. If we visited Canada, we would take a guided tour of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
10. If he traveled to Canada, he would sample maple syrup.