Second Conditional: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 20

Hello, and welcome to today’s Grammar Gameshow!

I’m your host, Will!

And if we cannot do what we will,

we must will what we can.

And of course, let’s not forget Leslie,

our all-knowing in the sky.

Hello, everyone!

Tonight we’re going to ask you three questions about…

The second conditional!

That present-to-future construction with ‘if’

that’s all about the unreal!

OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants!

Hello, all. My name’s Liz.

And contestant number two?

Hello, everyone. My name’s Rory.

Nice to see you again Liz!

How are you?

I’m well, thank you.

Fighting fit and ready for action.

Wonderful!

I hope you do really well.

That sounded… nice!

No cruel jokes? No false pleasantries?

No, no. It’s all about self-control!

I’m trying out a new nicer me.

Welcome Rory!

Tell me something about yourself.

I collect pencils.

What a fascinating hobby!

Well, I hope you do really well, both of you.

OK. Let’s get going and don’t forget

you can play along at home too.

It’s a double-question round

so fingers on those buzzers!

First question!

What is the formula

for a basic second conditional structure?

Is it ‘if’ plus a present tense and ‘will’ plus an infinitive?

So sorry, Rory. That is the first conditional.

But, please, dear friend, have another go for free.

OK.

Is it ‘if’ plus a present tense and ‘will’ plus an infinitive?

No!

That was the same answer again.

You know, the old me would have killed you for that.

Literally, plucked your eyes out of your skull.

But Liz, why don’t you give it a try?

Isn’t it

‘If’ plus a past tense plus ‘would’ plus an infinitive verb?

Can you give me an example?

I am eating a toffee.

No, that’s the present continuous.

I know, just pushing your buttons.

Oh!

Great!

So funny!

Wow, you are doing well.

The real answer is: if I had more time, I’d have a holiday.

Leslie?

Correct!

Well done! And onto our second question.

What is the second conditional used for?

We use a second conditional after a first conditional.

First then second, see?

Yes, I can see what you’ve done there.

It’s logical, but not right, I’m afraid. Liz?

It’s used for a hypothetical present or future situation

and its consequence.

Leslie?

Correct!

The second conditional structure is used for an unreal

or extremely unlikely,

present or future situation and its consequence.

Its formula is

‘If’ plus the past simple or continuous,

and ‘would’ plus an infinitive verb!

For example: if I were a girl,

I’d be called…

Leslita!

Oh, what a lovely name!

Well done Liz, six points to you.

And Rory,

you are very good at pushing that buzzer, aren’t you?

Yes.

One point to you.

On to our second round.

Look at these two sentences.

One is in the first conditional

and one is in the second conditional.

I want to know what the difference in meaning is.

If I leave now, I will get home early.

If I left now, I would get home early.

My name’s Rory!

Well, that’s wonderful to know, good friend.

Liz?

Isn’t it something to do with the speaker’s

perception of a situation?

With the first conditional,

the speaker believes that something is possible

and might actually happen.

With the second conditional,

the speaker says something is unlikely or unreal.

Wow. What an informative answer.

Let’s see if it’s correct.

Leslie, old friend?

It is correct!

Many ideas can be expressed in either the

first or second conditional.

They both talk about a present or future time, after all.

The difference is that when using a first conditional,

the speaker believes that an event is possible or real.

But if they use the second conditional,

they are saying it’s unlikely or impossible!

Six points to you Liz!

I’m impressed.

This is like a whole new you! I like this Will!

Thanks! You know, me too!

I’m sleeping better, I’ve got more energy,

I don’t spend hours

checking myself out in front of the mirror.

Let’s move on to our final round.

Which of these sentences is incorrect?

If I were rich, I’d buy a yacht.

If you were rich, you’d buy a yacht.

If he were rich, he’d buy a yacht.

If they were rich, they’d buy a yacht.

Rory, is this a proper answer?

Yes.

Are you sure?

Yes!

Well then go on, old friend!

Give it a go!

I choose

present perfect.

Liz?

I think c) is wrong.

It should be if he was…

Leslie?

Sorry Liz…

none of them are incorrect.

In the second conditional,

people commonly put the verb ‘be’ into the form ‘were’

for any pronoun…

including ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’.

It is frequent to hear both styles,

although many consider the ‘were’ form to be

more formal.

I am so silly. I knew that and forgot it.

And you were doing really well.

Have twenty points anyway.

And to you too, Rory!

Well, that brings us to the end of today’s

Grammar Gameshow.

Let’s count out the points…

and the winner is…

both of you!

You’re both winners in my book!

Hang on!

He didn’t even answer one question right!

Why does he win too?

Well, I can't drop him down the pit.

It wouldn’t be good for the new calm me!

I’m much nicer now.

But don’t you miss it?

The thrill of the drop…

The drop?

Drop.

When was the last time you…

The drop!

Well, it has been a while…

You must be really strong to just

drop the drop.

Drop the drop! Drop the drop! Drop the drop!

Drop the drop! Drop the drop!

Aw heck!

And bring him back up!

And drop him back down!

Release the clowns!

It looks like we’ll need another contestant.

Ah… so much better.

I’m back!

And my prize?

I’m fine!

We’ll see you again next week,

where you can play for another prize.

Thanks for joining us.

Say goodbye, Leslie.

Alavida, Leslie.

See you next time.