2nd conditional Stratford

We use the second conditional to talk about impossible or very unlikely situations. Ex.

If I were climbing in the mountains, I´d take a first aid kit. (but it´s not likely that I´ll go climbing in the mountains)

There are 2 parts to a second conditional sentence:

An If clause = condition

A main clause = result

If she had more money, She´d buy a new car. 

WE CAN PUT THE IF CLAUSE FIRST OR SECOND WITH NO CHANGE IN MEANING. HOWEVER IF WE PUT THE MAIN CLAUSE FIRST, WE DON´T USE A COMMA BETWEEN THE TWO CLAUSES.

SHE´D BUY A NEW HOUSE IF SHE HAD MORE MONEY.

WE FORM THE IF CLAUSE WITH IF + THE SIMPLE PAST AND WE FORM THE MAIN CLAUSE WITH WOULD (´D) + THE BASE FORM.

LOOK!!!!!

WE OFTEN USE WERE INSTEAD OF WAS IN THE IF CLAUSE WITH I/ HE/SHE/ IT EX.

IF HE WERE A LITTLE TALLER, THE PANTS WOULD FIT HIM.

I´D TAKE A TAXI IF I WERE YOU.

WE FORM THE IF CLAUSE WITH IF + THE SIMPLE PAST AND WE FORM THE MAIN CLAUSE WITH WOULD (´D) + THE BASE FORM.

LOOK!!!!!

WE OFTEN USE WERE INSTEAD OF WAS IN THE IF CLAUSE WITH I/ HE/SHE/ IT EX.

IF HE WERE A LITTLE TALLER, THE PANTS WOULD FIT HIM.

I´D TAKE A TAXI IF I WERE YOU.

+ IF I KNEW THE ANSWER, I´D TELL YOU.

- IF YOU WEREN´T SO IMPATIENT, YOU WOULDN´T HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

? IF IT WERE CHEAPER, WOULD YOU BUY IT?

* WE USE COULD + THE BASE FORM OR WOULD BE ABLE TO + THE BASE FORM IN THE MAIN CLAUSE TO SAY THAT A RESULT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

*IF ALEX DIDN´T HAVE SO MUCH WORK, HE COULD GO TO THE PARTY.

*SARA WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP US IF SHE WERE HERE.

WE CAN USE EITHER THE FIRST OR SECOND CONDITIONAL, BUT IT DEPENDS ON IF WE THINK A SITUATIONS IS A REAL POSSIBILITY, OR IF WE THINK IT´S VERY UNLIKELY OR IMPOSSIBLE.

* IF I GET THE JOB I´LL BE VERY HAPPY. = A REAL POSSIBILITY

* IF I GOT THE JOB, I´D BE VERY HAPPY. = VERY UNLIKELY

*I´LL MEET YOU LATER IF I DON´T HAVE TO WORK LATE. = A REAL POSSIBILITY

* I´D MEET YOU LATER IF I DIDN´T HAVE TO WORK LATE. = IMPOSSIBLE