Second and Third Conditional

We use it to express what we think could hypotetically happen in imaginary situations.

Example: I would learn French if I travelled to Canada.

We normally use the modal verbs would and could in the result clause of this type of conditional.

You'll get hurt if you lift that box without help.

You'd get hurt if you lifted that box without help.

Can you spot the difference? In which situation would you use each sentence?

We can give advice using the Second Conditional by saying "If I were you..." (Notice that in this case, the subject-verb agreement doesn't exist).

Example: I wouldn't climb that tree If I were you.

Hypothetical/Imaginary situations, unreal situations and advice.

If X happened, Y would/could happen

PAST SIMPLE + WOULD/COULD

We use the Third Conditional to express an imaginary past. We imagine past actions and their possible consequences.

We usually express regrets using the Third Conditional.

Example: I would have learnt Portuguese if I had visited my aunt in Brazil.

The oportunity of the past action is no longer available to us, which means we can only imagine what it would have been like. We imagine a different past.

Unreal past and regrets.

If X had happened, Y would have happened

PAST PERFECT + WOULD HAVE