What are some common mistakes people make with second conditionals?

What are some common mistakes people make with second conditionals?

One common mistake is using the simple past instead of the past subjunctive. For example, saying 'If I was rich' instead of 'If I were rich.'

Why is 'if I were' preferred over 'if I was'?

'If I were' is used for hypothetical situations, while 'if I was' is typically used for real situations in the past.

Can you give me more examples of second conditionals?

Sure! For instance, 'If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.' This shows a hypothetical situation.

What about using 'would' in the if-clause?

That's another mistake! In second conditionals, 'would' should only be used in the main clause, not the if-clause.

Thanks! This really helps clarify things.