Present unreal conditionals are also known as second conditionals. The present unreal conditional expresses a hypothetical situation. Hypothetical means not real or being in an imagined situation. Present unreal conditionals indicate if this happened, that would occur. But in reality, the event or action did not occur.
Present unreal conditionals make hypothetical statements then show what would happen in such situations. Sentences use "if" to make a hypothetical statement then expresses a hypothetical end result. "If" can be used to start off a sentence or be used to join two clauses. Only "if" is used with present unreal conditionals because it is describing a hypothetical or imaginary situation. You cannot use "when" in these sentences.
Also in present unreal conditionals, the "be" verb in past tense "were" is used instead of "was" even with "I", "he", "she", or "it". It is grammatically incorrect to use "was" in these sentences.
Directions: Choose the correct answer
1) If I had my own company, ____________________.
a. I would take many vacations
b. I would took many vacations
c. I would taking many vacations
2) If I lived in Hawaii, ____________________.
a. I would goes to the beach every day
b. I would going to the beach every day
c. I would go to the beach every day
3) If I were the President, ____________________.
a. I would reducing taxes
b. I would reduce taxes
c. I would reduced taxes
4) If she hated her job, ____________________.
a. she would quit
b. she would quitting
c. she would quits
5) If he were not allergic to dogs, ____________________.
a. he would got two dogs
b. he would getting two dogs.
c. he would adopt two dogs
Directions: Choose the correct answer
1) If I had a nice voice, I would __________ in the church choir.
a. sings
b. singing
c. sing
2) If I __________ single, I would live in a downtown high-rise.
a. was
b. were
c. are
3) If I spoke Chinese, I would __________to my grandmother more often.
a. speak
b. speaks
c. speaking
4) If he __________ taller, he would play basketball.
a. was
b. were
c. is
5) If we had enough money, we would __________a house.
a. buys
b. buying
c. buy
Quiz 1 Answers
1) a. I would take many vacations
2) c. I would go to the beach every day
3) b. I would reduce taxes
4) a. she would quit
5) c. he would adopt two dogs
Quiz 2 Answers
1) c. sing
2) b. were
3) a. speak
4) b. were
5) c. buy
