Second conditional

The point

An unreal present uses if plus the past, then would plus the base. If I had time, I would stay. Were is the book form after if for a hypothetical I. Would does not belong in the if clause.

Form and use

The second conditional is an unreal present or an imagined future. The if clause takes a past form. The result takes would plus the base. If I had time, I would stay. That past does not mean a finished time. Would does not belong in the if clause.

Read the full set. If I had time, I would stay. If you knew, you would help. If she lived here, she would walk. If they called, we would answer. If I were you, I would wait. If he were here, he would know. I would not stay. She would not walk. Would you stay if you had time? What would she do if she knew? I would stay if I had time.

After if, the book form of be is were. If I were you, I would wait. Would not makes the result negative. A question puts would before the subject: Would you stay if you had time? The if clause still uses the past.

The first conditional is a real chance: if it rains, we will stay. The second imagines another present: if it rained, we would stay. Do not mix them. If I would have time is wrong. Past in the if, would in the result.

Don't translate it like this

Past in the if clause, would in the result.

Short examples