The 2nd Conditional is a fascinating part of English grammar, often used to express hypothetical situations and their possible outcomes. You’ll get here the 15 2nd conditional quiz with explanation of it for learning. It’s a valuable tool for imagining “what if” scenarios, where reality takes a backseat to possibility.
This quiz is designed to test your understanding of the 2nd Conditional, helping you sharpen your skills while exploring creative and thought-provoking situations. Whether you’re a student aiming to master grammar or simply a language enthusiast, this quiz will challenge your knowledge and enhance your command of conditional sentences. See how well you can navigate the world of “if” and “would”!
2nd Conditional Quiz test
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Examples and Exercise on second conditional quiz multiple choice
1. I …… very happy if I …… Japanese.
a) Would be, would speak
b) Would be, spoke
c) Were, would speak
Explanation:
Correct answer: b) Would be, spoke. This is a 2nd Conditional sentence, which describes hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future. The structure of the 2nd Conditional is:
If + past simple, subject + would + base verb.
- “I would be” fits because “would” + base verb (be) expresses the hypothetical result.
- “If I spoke” fits because the past simple tense (spoke) is used in the conditional clause to indicate the unreal condition.
2. If you …… a lion in the street, what ……?
a) Saw, would you do
b) Saw, did you do
c) see, do
Explanation:
Correct answer: a) Saw, would you do. Again, this is a 2nd Conditional sentence. The structure applies:
If + past simple, subject + would + base verb.
- “If you saw” uses the past simple tense to set up the hypothetical condition.
- “What would you do?” correctly uses “would” + base verb to ask about the hypothetical result of seeing a lion
3. If I …… a bike, I …… to work
a) had, drove
d) would have, would drive
c) had, would drive
Explanation
Correct answer: c) had, would drive. This sentence expresses a conditional statement in the past tense. The phrase “If I had a car” introduces a hypothetical scenario from the past, while “I would drive to work” reflects the resulting action that would have occurred if that scenario had been real.
Thus, the correct answer is “had, would drive,” as it accurately captures the conditional link between the two segments of the sentence.
4. If Paul …… a bike, he …… it every day.
a) Had, would drive
b) had, drove
c) would drive, would have
Explanation: Correct answer: a) Had, would drive. This is a 2nd Conditional sentence, used to describe a hypothetical situation in the present or future. The structure of the 2nd Conditional is:
If + past simple, subject + would + base verb.
- “If Paul had a bike”: The past simple tense “had” is used in the “if” clause to describe the hypothetical situation (Paul doesn’t have a bike in reality).
- “He would drive it every day”: “Would” + base verb (drive) correctly expresses the imagined result of Paul having a bike.
5. He …… at the Sheraton if he …… a poor man. (not stay, be)
a) Wouldn’t stay, would be
b) Didn’t stay, were
c) Wouldn’t stay, were
Explanation
The right answer is a) “wouldn’t stay, were” because the sentence reflects a conditional format, signaling a theoretical scenario.
The phrase “wouldn’t stay” implies that he would opt not to remain at the Sheraton, while “were” serves as the appropriate verb form to align with the hypothetical situation, suggesting that he is not genuinely a poor man.
6. If I ______ more money, I ______ a bigger house.
a) Have, will buy
b) Had, would buy
c) Would have, bought
Correct Answer: b) Had, would buy
Explanation: The 2nd Conditional structure is: If + past simple, would + base verb. “Had” is the past simple verb, and “would buy” fits in the result clause for this hypothetical situation.
7. If she ______ more time, she ______ a book.
a) Has, would write
b) Had, would write
c) Had, will write
Correct Answer: b) Had, would write
Explanation: “Had” (past simple) sets the unreal condition, and “would write” (would + base verb) expresses the imagined outcome. This follows the 2nd Conditional pattern.
8. If they ______ the truth, they ______ disappointed.
a) Knew, would be
b) Know, are
c) Would know, would be
Correct Answer: a) Knew, would be
Explanation: “Knew” is the past simple form in the “if” clause, and “would be” fits the result clause to express the hypothetical reaction.
9. If we ______ to the beach, we ______ volleyball.
a) Went, would play
b) Go, will play
c) Would go, play
Correct Answer: a) Went, would play
Explanation: The past simple verb “went” creates the hypothetical scenario, and “would play” expresses the outcome, following the 2nd Conditional rules.
10. If I ______ you, I ______ that decision.
a) Were, wouldn’t make
b) Was, would make
c) Am, wouldn’t make
Correct Answer: a) Were, wouldn’t make
Explanation: In hypothetical situations about identity, “were” is used instead of “was” for all subjects. “Wouldn’t make” follows to indicate the unreal result.
11. If he ______ his job, he ______ abroad.
a) Lost, would move
b) Lose, moves
c) Would lose, moved
Correct Answer: a) Lost, would move
Explanation: “Lost” is the past simple verb for the “if” clause, and “would move” fits the result clause to express the hypothetical outcome.
12. If she ______ more confident, she ______ better at interviews.
a) Is, does
b) Were, would do
c) Was, did
Correct Answer: b) Were, would do
Explanation: “Were” is the correct verb in unreal conditions with “she,” and “would do” expresses the hypothetical result in line with the 2nd Conditional structure.
13. If you ______ to learn, you ______ succeed.
a) Wanted, would
b) Want, will
c) Wants, would
Correct Answer: a) Wanted, would
Explanation: “Wanted” (past simple) sets the condition, and “would succeed” expresses the hypothetical result, following the 2nd Conditional rules.
14. If we ______ earlier, we ______ the train.
a) Had left, would catch
b) Left, would catch
c) Leave, catch
Correct Answer: b) Left, would catch
Explanation: “Left” is past simple for the hypothetical situation, and “would catch” describes the imagined outcome.
15. If animals ______ talk, humans ______ understand them better.
a) Can, will
b) Could, would
c) Could, will
Correct Answer: b) Could, would
Explanation: “Could” expresses the hypothetical ability in the “if” clause, and “would understand” fits the result clause.
FAQ’s on Second Conditionals
What is the Second Conditional, and when is it used?
The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future and their possible outcomes. For example, If I had more time, I would learn a new language. It expresses scenarios that are unlikely or imaginary rather than factual.
What is the sentence structure of the Second Conditional?
The Second Conditional follows this structure:
If + past simple, subject + would + base verb.
For example: If she won the lottery, she would travel the world. The past simple tense indicates the unreal condition, and “would” + base verb expresses the hypothetical result.
Can “could” or “might” replace “would” in the Second Conditional?
Yes, “could” or “might” can replace “would” to convey possibility or ability. For instance:
- If I had more money, I could buy a car (ability).
- If it rained tomorrow, we might stay indoors (possibility).
Why is “were” used instead of “was” in some Second Conditional sentences?
In the Second Conditional, “were” is used instead of “was” for all subjects to express unreal or hypothetical situations. For example, If I were a bird, I would fly. This is a grammar rule called the subjunctive mood, which emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the statement.
How is the Second Conditional different from the First Conditional?
The First Conditional is used for real or likely situations in the future (e.g., If it rains, I will stay indoors), while the Second Conditional talks about unreal or unlikely scenarios in the present or future (e.g., If it rained, I would stay indoors). The difference lies in the level of possibility and the verb tenses used.
The 2nd Conditional Quiz is a fantastic way to enhance your understanding of hypothetical scenarios. By practicing these structures, you can express unreal situations.