Second conditional If I had a car, I wouldn’t need to leave home so early. [I don’t have a car.] If I were a plumber, I would fix the leaking pipes at home. [I’m not a plumber.] If I lived in Iceland, I would speak Icelandic. [I don’t live in Iceland.]

Second conditional The second conditional talks about an unrealistic present or an unlikely future.

Second conditional If I lived in Iceland, I would speak Icelandic. If I lived in Iceland, I could speak Icelandic. If I lived in Iceland, I might speak Icelandic. In the main clause, could and might are also possible instead of would.

Third conditional If I had grown up in Iceland, I would have seen a lot of snow. [I didn’t grow up in Iceland.] If I had practiced basketball as a child, I might have become a professional player. [I didn’t practice basketball as a child.] In the main clause, could have done and might have done are also possible instead of would have done.

Third conditional The third conditional talks about an unrealistic past.

Grammar summary Second conditional If I were a professional basketball player, I would play in the Olympic games. Third conditional: If I had practiced basketball as a child, I would have become a professional player.

What to stress Main verbs, but not auxiliary verbs: I would have visited her If I had known she was home. Negative elements, including auxiliary verbs: I wouldn’t visit her if I didn’t like her.

What to stress Objects and complements of the main verbs (except if they are object pronouns): If I played the guitar, I could have a garage band. Adverbs If I played the piano very well, I could be a professional musician.

What to stress References of time and place: I would have visited her yesterday If I had known she was home. Question words: What would you have done if you had been aboard the Titanic?

Pronunciation p. 54 I would have been terrified If I told you what happened, If I hadn’t read the safety information, I wouldn’t fly with that airline If I’d stayed in the building longer, I’d travel more

Pronunciation p. 54 I would have been terrified If I told you what happened, If I hadn’t read the safety information, I wouldn’t fly with that airline If I’d stayed in the building longer, I’d travel more

Grammar 4A 1. wouldn’t go 2. hadn’t been 3. were 4. would kill 5. didn’t give 6. hadn’t found 7. would have eaten 8. hadn’t been / weren’t 9. would have died 10. would have been 11. would you do 12. would have given