If I were you: imagining and advice (second conditional): Spoken English: Zero to Fluent (Intermediate)

Quick reminder from module 7: the first conditional is for real chances in the future: "If it rains, I'll stay home." Today we imagine (कल्पना करना). The second conditional talks about a situation that is not true now, or is very unlikely: "If I had a car..." (but I don't).

Part	Form	Example
If part (the imagined condition)	if + past simple	If I had more time,
Result part	would + base verb	I would learn to dance.
Negative	didn't / wouldn't	If I didn't have a job, I wouldn't stay in Mumbai.
Question	What would you do if...?	What would you do if you saw a snake?

The verb looks past, but the meaning is present or future. "If I had a car" does not mean yesterday; it means "now, in my imagination".

If I had a car, I would drive to work.

Say it: if ai HAD a KAAR, ai wud DRYV to WURK

अगर मेरे पास कार होती, तो मैं गाड़ी से ऑफ़िस जाता।

The truth: I don't have a car. I take the bus.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a house for my parents.

Say it: if ai WUN the LOT-er-ee, ai wud BY a HOWS for my PAIR-ents

अगर मेरी लॉटरी लग जाती, तो मैं अपने माता-पिता के लिए घर ख़रीदता।

If I knew her number, I'd call her.

Say it: if ai NYOO her NUM-ber, aid KAWL her

अगर मुझे उसका नंबर पता होता, तो मैं उसे फ़ोन कर देता।

"I'd" = I would. In fast speech "I would" almost always becomes "I'd" (sounds "aid"). "Wouldn't" sounds "WUD-unt".

If I were you: giving advice

In the second conditional we can use "were" for every person: if I were, if he were, if she were, if it were. In casual speech many people say "if I was", and that is common. But "were" is always safe, and it is the answer exams want. In "If I were you", always use "were".

If I were you, I'd talk to the manager.

Say it: if ai WUR yoo, aid TAWK to the MAN-i-jer

अगर मैं तुम्हारी जगह होता, तो मैनेजर से बात करता।

A soft, friendly way to give advice. It feels gentler than "You should...".

I wouldn't sign it if I were you.

Say it: ai WUD-unt SYN it if ai WUR yoo

मैं तुम्हारी जगह होता तो इस पर साइन नहीं करता।

The "if" part can come second. Then there is no comma.

What would you do if you lost your phone?

Say it: wot wud yoo DOO if yoo LOST yor FOHN?

अगर तुम्हारा फ़ोन खो जाता, तो तुम क्या करते?

"Would you" often sounds like "wud-joo" in fast speech.

	First conditional	Second conditional
Chance	real, likely	imaginary or unlikely
Form	if + present, will + verb	if + past, would + verb
Example	If I get the job in Pune, I'll move there. (the interview went well)	If I got a job in London, I'd move there. (just a dream)
Hindi feel	अगर मिली, तो जाऊँगा	अगर मिलती, तो जाता

Think of it like this: The first conditional is like a weather forecast: it may really happen, so you plan for it. The second conditional is like a Bollywood dream song: suddenly the hero is dancing in Switzerland. It is lovely to imagine, but he is still standing in his small town.

Careful: Common mistakes: "If I would have money, I would buy a bike" (no "would" in the if part: "If I had money, I would buy a bike"). "If I am you, I will..." (say "If I were you, I would..."). "I would bought it" (would + base verb: "I would buy it").

Careful: Hindi uses the same "होता / करता" shape in both halves, so learners often copy one tense into both parts. In English the two parts are different: past after "if", "would" in the result.

Tip: Every morning, ask yourself one "What would you do if...?" question and answer it aloud in two sentences. "What would I do if I had a free day? I would sleep till nine, and I would visit my cousin."

If I were you: imagining and advice (second conditional)

Explanation

If I were you: giving advice

Watch the lesson

In real life: Friends in the college canteen

Practice (0/4 done)

Quick quiz