Second Conditional: Were vs. Was
Use 'were' for all subjects to describe imaginary dreams and give polite advice in the second conditional.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use Second Conditional for imaginary or impossible situations right now.
- The pattern is: If + Past Simple, would + base verb.
- Always use 'were' instead of 'was' for all subjects in formal English.
- Use 'If I were you' to give friendly and polite advice.
Quick Reference
| Subject | If-Clause (Condition) | Result Clause | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | If I were you | I would go home | Giving advice |
| He / She | If she were here | she would help us | She is not here |
| They | If they were rich | they would travel | They are not rich |
| It | If it were sunny | we would go out | It is raining now |
| You | If you were faster | you would win | You are not fast |
| We | If we were older | we would understand | We are young |
Key Examples
3 of 8If I were a millionaire, I would buy a private island.
Si yo fuera millonario, compraría una isla privada.
If I were you, I would call the doctor today.
Si yo fuera tú, llamaría al médico hoy.
If she were taller, she would be a professional model.
Si ella fuera más alta, sería modelo profesional.
The 'Were' Rule
Think of 'were' as a special key that opens the door to a dream world. It doesn't follow normal rules because dreams aren't normal!
Avoid Double Would
Never put 'would' in the 'if' part. It's like wearing two hats at once—it's just too much and looks silly.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use Second Conditional for imaginary or impossible situations right now.
- The pattern is: If + Past Simple, would + base verb.
- Always use 'were' instead of 'was' for all subjects in formal English.
- Use 'If I were you' to give friendly and polite advice.
Overview
Imagine you have a magic wand. You can change anything in your life right now. You are not a billionaire today. But you can dream about it. This is where the second conditional starts. It is the language of "what if." We use it for things that are not real. It is like a movie playing in your head. You use it to talk about impossible things. You also use it for very unlikely things. It is a fun way to share your dreams. It helps you talk about a different reality. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener that we are entering a dream zone. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! But don't worry. You will master it quickly. It is all about imagination and distance.
How This Grammar Works
This grammar uses the past tense. But it does not talk about yesterday. This is the most important part to remember. It uses the past to show "distance" from reality. The situation is far from the truth right now. Think of it like a grammar safety zone. We step back into the past tense. This tells the listener: "This is a dream." It is not a real plan for today. It is a "maybe" in an alternate world. If you use the present tense, it sounds real. If you use the past tense, it sounds like a fantasy. Your brain might want to say was. But for this rule, were is the VIP guest. It works for every person. It works for I, you, he, she, and it.
Formation Pattern
- 1Start your sentence with the word
if. - 2Add the person or the subject of the sentence.
- 3Use the past tense verb
werefor the "be" verb. - 4Use
werefor everyone, even forI,he, orshe. - 5Put a comma after the first part of the sentence.
- 6Start the second part with the subject again.
- 7Use the word
wouldfollowed by a basic verb. - 8Example:
If I were a bird, I would fly to Spain.
When To Use It
Use it when you give advice to a friend. "If I were you, I would buy that shirt." This is a very polite way to help. Use it for your wild, impossible dreams. "If I were an astronaut, I would visit Mars." Use it for hypothetical questions during a chat. "What would you do if you were invisible?" It is perfect for job interviews too. "If I were the manager, I would help the team grow." You can use it when ordering food with friends. "If I were you, I would order the chocolate cake." It is great for talking about things you cannot change. If you are short, you might say: "If I were taller, I would play basketball."
When Not To Use It
Do not use it for real things that might happen. If a situation is likely, use the first conditional. "If it rains, I will take an umbrella." That is a real possibility for your afternoon. Second conditional is for the "impossible" right now. Don't use it for things that already happened in the past. That is a different rule for a different day. Don't use would in the if part of the sentence. Keep would in the second part only. It is like a see-saw. One side has the past tense. The other side has the would part. They must stay in their own places.
Common Mistakes
Many people say If I was in casual conversation. You will hear this in songs and movies. However, If I were is the "gold standard" for grammar. It makes you sound very clear and professional. Another mistake is using would twice in one sentence. Don't say: "If I would be rich, I would buy a car." This sounds very confusing to a native speaker. Only use would in the result part. Also, do not forget the comma if if is at the start. If you flip the sentence, you don't need the comma. "I would buy a car if I were rich." See? No comma needed there.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Compare this to the first conditional. The first conditional is about real possibilities. "If I have money, I will buy bread." This means you probably have money in your pocket. The second conditional is about dreams. "If I had a million dollars, I would buy a boat." This means you are likely broke right now! The first conditional uses will. The second conditional uses would. The first conditional uses the present tense. The second conditional uses the past tense. It is all about how likely the event is. If it is a dream, go with the second conditional. If it is a plan, go with the first.
Quick FAQ
Q. Is If I was always wrong?
A. It is okay in casual talk, but were is better.
Q. Why do we use were for he and she?
A. It is a special mood called the subjunctive mood.
Q. Can I use could instead of would?
A. Yes! Use could if you want to talk about ability.
Q. Does this talk about the past?
A. No, it talks about an imaginary present or future.
Q. Is the comma always necessary?
A. Only if the if part comes first in the sentence.
Reference Table
| Subject | If-Clause (Condition) | Result Clause | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | If I were you | I would go home | Giving advice |
| He / She | If she were here | she would help us | She is not here |
| They | If they were rich | they would travel | They are not rich |
| It | If it were sunny | we would go out | It is raining now |
| You | If you were faster | you would win | You are not fast |
| We | If we were older | we would understand | We are young |
The 'Were' Rule
Think of 'were' as a special key that opens the door to a dream world. It doesn't follow normal rules because dreams aren't normal!
Avoid Double Would
Never put 'would' in the 'if' part. It's like wearing two hats at once—it's just too much and looks silly.
Advice Strategy
Use 'If I were you' whenever you want to give a suggestion without sounding bossy. It's very polite.
Song Lyrics
You might hear 'If I was' in pop songs (like Justin Bieber). They do this for rhythm, but 'were' is still the correct way for school and work!
Ejemplos
8If I were a millionaire, I would buy a private island.
Focus: were
Si yo fuera millonario, compraría una isla privada.
This is a classic hypothetical situation.
If I were you, I would call the doctor today.
Focus: If I were you
Si yo fuera tú, llamaría al médico hoy.
Using 'were' makes this a common advice structure.
If she were taller, she would be a professional model.
Focus: she were
Si ella fuera más alta, sería modelo profesional.
She cannot change her height, so it is unreal.
If I were the president, I could change the laws.
Focus: could
Si yo fuera el presidente, podría cambiar las leyes.
'Could' shows ability in the imaginary world.
If the manager were available, he would speak with you.
Focus: manager were
Si el gerente estuviera disponible, hablaría con usted.
Very professional and grammatically precise.
✗ If I was you → ✓ If I were you, I would stay.
Focus: were
Si yo fuera tú, me quedaría.
Always use 'were' for advice to be correct.
✗ If I were rich, I will buy → ✓ If I were rich, I would buy a car.
Focus: would buy
Si fuera rico, compraría un coche.
Match 'were' with 'would', not 'will'.
If it were not for your help, I would be lost.
Focus: If it were not for
Si no fuera por tu ayuda, estaría perdido.
A common way to show gratitude for help.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct verb to complete the dream situation.
If I ___ a cat, I would sleep all day long.
In the second conditional, 'were' is used for all subjects to show an unreal situation.
Complete the advice sentence correctly.
If I were you, I ___ the blue dress for the party.
The result part of a second conditional sentence requires 'would' + base verb.
Identify the correct formal structure.
If he ___ here, he would know what to do.
Even for 'he', we use 'were' to indicate a hypothetical or unreal state.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Was vs. Were
Choosing the Right Verb
Is the situation real?
Is it a plan for the future?
Common Scenarios
Job Interview
- • If I were hired...
- • If I were the boss...
Travel Dreams
- • If I were in Tokyo...
- • If I were on a beach...
Frequently Asked Questions
22 questionsIt is a grammar structure used to talk about imaginary or unlikely situations in the present or future. For example, If I were a giant, I would step over mountains.
We use were to show that the situation is not real. This is called the subjunctive mood, which signals a hypothetical world.
In very casual speaking, people say If I was, and it is understood. However, in writing or formal exams, you should always use If I were.
Yes, it applies to everyone. You should say If she were here or If he were rich instead of using was.
Would describes the result of the imaginary condition. It shows what you think would happen in that dream scenario.
Yes, you can! Use could if you want to emphasize that you would have the ability to do something, like If I were a bird, I could fly.
No, even though we use past tense verbs like were or had, we are talking about right now or the future. It is just 'distanced' language.
You move the would to the front of the result part. For example: What would you do if you were the president?
You only need a comma if the if part starts the sentence. If you say I would be happy if I were rich, you don't need one.
Yes, might is used if you are not 100% sure about the result. If I were you, I might wait a bit.
It is extremely common! It is the standard way to give advice in English without being too direct.
It is just a naming system. The 'first' is for real things, and the 'second' is for imaginary things.
Absolutely. It shows you can think about different possibilities, like If I were in charge, I would improve efficiency.
It sounds like a mistake. If you use were, you must use would to keep the sentence balanced in the 'dream' tense.
No, the rule for If I were is the same in both American and British English for formal situations.
Just add not. For example: If I were not so busy, I would go to the party.
Yes, you use the past simple of any verb. If I won the lottery, I would travel.
Sometimes! Many native speakers use was by mistake, so don't feel bad if you forget. Just keep practicing!
Usually no, because science is about facts. Use the Zero Conditional for facts and the Second for imagination.
Not at all. It sounds correct and educated. It is perfectly fine for daily conversation with friends.
That is exactly when you use it! If there is a 1% chance, the second conditional is your best friend.
No, the order must be If + subject + were. The other way is very old-fashioned and almost never used now.
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