Second conditional

The first conditional (also called conditional type 1) is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the future.Type 1: if + present + future.

Example:
If I have the money, I will buy this car.
If it's sunny, we'll go to the park.
Peter will be sad if Susan leaves.
If you cook dinner, I'll wash the dishes.

Among other variations the structure if + present + present is also possible. It is used when the results are habitual or automatic. Example: If a commodity is in short, supply prices tend to rise.

http://netgrammar.altec.org/Units/Unit_15/a101c15_201000.html

The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situations.

•If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.
•If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
•If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
•If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.
Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'. (Some people think that 'were' is the only 'correct' form but other people think 'was' is equally 'correct' .)

•If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
•If I lived in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
•If they were to enter our market, we'd have big problems.
Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

•If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
•If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.
The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely' situations.

•If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.
•If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
•If you were in my position, you'd understand.
Note that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts. Compare these examples. Otto thinks these things are possible, Peter doesn't.

•Otto – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
•Peter – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
•Otto – If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
•Peter – If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
•Otto – If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne for everybody.
•Peter – If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne for everybody.
Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.

•If I was still working in Brighton, I would commute by train.
•If she were coming, she would be here by now.
•If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.
Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

•If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.
•If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
•If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.
Also note that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

•What would I do without you? ("if you weren't here")
•Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I wanted one")
•He wouldn't agree. ("if I asked him")


http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/secondconditional/menu.php

Murphy's laws

•If anything can go wrong, it will
•If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong
•If anything just cannot go wrong, it will anyway
•Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse
•If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something
Smile . . . tomorrow will be worse.
•Nothing is as easy as it looks.
•Everything takes longer than you think.
•Every solution breeds new problems.
•A falling object will always land where it can do the most damage.
•A shatterproof object will always fall on the only surface hard enough to crack or break it.
•A paint drip will always find the hole in the newspaper and land on the carpet underneath (and will not be discovered until it has dried).

causatives

Certain verbs can be used to express a causal relationship between the subject and object in a sentence. Some of them require a "to" while others do not. Note the following patterns:

With "to"
S + V + O + to V (O)

I allowed Jim to clean up the mess.

I asked Jim to clean up the mess.

I told Jim to clean up the mess.

I persuaded Jim to clean up the mess.*

Without "to"
S + V + O + V (O)

I let Jim clean up the mess.


http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/causative_verbs.html


I had Jim clean up the mess.

I made Jim clean up the mess.


*Other verbs which use this pattern are require, command, force, order, remind, and urge. The verb help can be used with or without "to": Help Jim (to) clean up the mess.

Some verbs use the pattern, S + V that S + V (the second verb is in the base form)


I insisted that Laura do her homework.
I suggested that Laura do her homework.

I recommended that Laura do her homework.

(not "does")
*Other verbs which can be used with this pattern are ask, require, request, and demand.

The most common error with causatives is using "to" unnecessarily. For example,


We made Kevin to finish his supper.
We made Kevin finish his supper.

They suggested Irene to take music lessons.

They suggested that Irene take music lessons.
(Incorrect)
(Correct)

(Incorrect)

(Correct)




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