2nd and 3rd Conditional Sentences

1. 2nd Conditional Sentences    
    a. Definition

The second conditional (also called conditional type 2) is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the present or in the future.

    b. The Structure of 2nd Conditional Sentences

• Like a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if” clause and a main clause:

IF CLAUSE	Main Clause
If I had a million dollars,	I would buy a big house.

• If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:

Main Clause	IF Clause
I would buy a big house	if I had a million dollars

If clause	Result Clause
If + simple past (V2)	would + V1

*Note: If, there’s a to be on the sentence. That’s only “were”

    c. Examples & Using of 2nd Conditional Sentences
          The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future -- things which don't or won't happen:

Example :	Explanation:
If I were you, I would drive more carefully in the rain.	I am not you — this is unreal.
If dogs had wings, they would be able to fly.	Dogs don't have wings — that's impossible.
If she were a doctor, she would check your health.	In the Fact – She’s not a doctor.
If he had enough money, he would go to Seoul.	In the Fact – He doesn’t have any money.
If I studied hard, I would pass the test successfully.	In the fact- You don’t study hard, so you don’t pass it successfully.

2. 3rd Conditional Sentence
    a. Definition

3rd  conditional  sentences  is an   “impossible   condition” , meaning it is contraty to the  fact in the  past  and there is no  hope  for the situasion to occur   because   you     were Imagining something   in the past. 

    b. The Structure of 3rd Conditional Sentences

•       Like the other conditionals, a third conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if” clause and a main clause:

If clause	Main clause
if + subject + past perfect verb(3rd form) If I had gone to surabaya last week,	subject + would (or could, or might) have + past participle I would have met my grandparents for the last time.

•       Note also that third conditional forms can be contracted:

Full form : If I had studied harder, I probably would have passed the exam.

Contracted form : If I'd studied harder, I probably would've passed the exam.

c. Example and Using of 3rd Conditional Sentences

The third conditional is used to talk about things which did not happen in the past. If your native language does not have a similar construction, you may find this a little strange, but it can be very useful. It is often used to express criticism or regret:

Example :	Explanation:
If you had driven more carefully, you would not have had an accident.	Criticism: You had an accident because you didn't drive carefully enough.
If we had played a little better, we could have won the game.	Regret: We didn't play well, so we lost the game.
If you had saved your money, you could have bought a computer.	Criticism: You didn't save your money, so now you can't afford a computer.
If it had snowed, we could have gone skiing.	Regret: It didn't snow, so we couldn't go skiing.

Note:

ü  The conditional clause without if can be made negative by adding not after the subject. The contracted form n’t is never used. Examples:

(1)    Were he not here, he wouldn’t know about it.

(2)     Had he not come earlier, you wouldn’t have met him.

ü  In a conditional sentence without if, a comma is commonly used after the conditional clause.