English Grammar | CONDITIONALS-Present Unreal (2nd)
Conditionals – Present Unreal
Note: This is also called the Second Conditional.
FORM: If + Subject + Past Simple , Subject + Would + Base Verb
What follows is a basic explanation of Second Conditionals. This is intended to help you understand the Blog example, not to give complete instruction.
A Conditional sentence has two parts – the Condition & the Result.
The Condition part of the sentence often begins with If.
The other part of the sentence is the Result.
A Present Unreal Condition is about something that is not true in the present.
The writer/speaker is saying IF the Condition part of my sentence was true, then the Result part of my sentence would also be true.
The first part of your sentence is NOT true. (Use a Past Simple verb.)
In the Result, use would followed by a base verb.
e.g. 1, If I had a million dollars, I would travel.
e.g. 2, If I were a famous basketball player, all the girls would love me.
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Note: On the Condition side, for the (verb)be, were is correct. Was is considered acceptable in spoken English; it sounds less formal.