Conditional & Imaginary: IF, WILL, WOULD, WERE

Hi there!
Great lesson teacher. It’s really useful. carry on doing like that. congratulaiotns for your initiative.

Euripedes garcia

Thanks Euripedes garcia, for the comment and using the site.

James

james !!!!! hi ? i’m korean ! but i live in canada
if u have time i want to meet in canada
can u teach me face to face ?
i was surprised!!!!!!!!!!! ur lesson is good!!!!!!!!!! really really i want it !

minjikim

Hi James,

I did a question some days ago about the other Conditionals and you didn’t answer it. How can we be in touch to solve doubts? I’m registered.
thanks

darci

all the thank for you my best teachers

king futur

could you help me with will& would (difference)

Mohammed Ajaz

Hi, James!
I have a question.
in imaginary sentence, Do I always need “V2B”?
I hope Christmas holiday will be over soon!

Rieko

Hi Rieko,

No, you don’t always have to use the “V2B”

You have to have the dependent clause in the past tense and use would, should, could, or might in the main clause.

The “V2B” is a special case when used in the imaginary tense, as mentioned in the video.

Hope this helps.

James

Hi I like your video lessons a lot. Thanks a lot , James. I didnt know that in the main clause in the second conditional to express imaginary situation I could use should , could , and might. Can you give me an example

John

in short, we always use V2B in imaginary form…?

nhica

Hi, James. I have a problem with this subjunctive past. Can you tell me what is the difference between
“What would happen if I did not remember things?”
What would happen if i were not? to remember things?

Mnergiz

I think it is the same , only different expression.

rashajodie

Hi James!
Thanks again for another helpful lesson.

Can you please give me a short idea on what “V2B” means?

Thanks.

Nilo_M.

Well Nilo,

As you have seen, it has a unique form when used in the imaginary tense.

It is the only verb with a different form for the first person, the third person singular, and the plural/ second person forms.

Ex: I – am/’m
S(he), It – is/’s
You, We, They – are/’re

It is also the auxiliary verb used with the present continuous.

James

thank you very match . i will be see all your video in the futur

zakaria

this sentence is right: if I were president I’d change the world

ALexander

nice lesson
but what about the third condition?

Eman

can u make some lessons on how to use would and could?

monika

realy you are skilled teacher
thank uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

islam_gomma@yahoo.com

hi James

your lessons very useful to me, please could you tell the difference between the imaginary would and the will in the past tense

Muhanad Jaff

hi, there~
I’ve just seen your lesson about conditionals. I can say it’s goon enough.

and I wonder… why didn’t you make a video lesson about 3rd conditional sentence, zero one as well.

I hope you make it so soon.

one of those who wait for your lessons.

Mr.KooL

Hi James,
Thanks for the lesson. i have a question. if a condition is given, will that affect the answer would or will? Example as below:

We can see light because of the carotenoid pigments present in the retina. If these pigments were not present in the retina, we _will/would_ be blind.

what should be the answer? thanks

Sharon

Big tks to u, James !

Rommel

Thankyou Sir for helping me out of this thing

Muhammad Asif

thts realy help me

ihtesham09

Hi James, your lesson is help me . thank you very much:)

rema22

Hi James. I love your classes!
There are many Conditionals (in regreted or imaginary situations, in the present, in future and now). You do not gave that lesson or I couldn’t find them?) . I’m needy of this urgently, please.
thanks a lot

darci

thank you mr.james you are the Best Teacher Thank’s again

Aslam

hi james,this is first time i join you..thank you for your all help.god bless you.

noureen khurshedi

hi James,u did a great job n your way of teaching is supurb.i have learnt a lot from u but i would like more explanation about conditional n imaginary sentences.what is a major difference between if+will and if+would.

JASMINE

The class was very helpful. Thank you for teach me. Engvid is the best english site that I have found, because of the teacher´s quality.

Irma Conrado

hoohhhh my godness, I didn’t know I were . . he were a good student , , , if you were a girl I fu,,,,,..

sergioss

thanks james

benfodi

this site is very interesting and helpful. thanks a lot! ^^,)

jhosh

hi james, I understood your lesson about conditionals however, I do not understand which is the difference among will and would when they express typical behaviour

Miriam

hi James, I understood your lesson about how to use if clauses. But I would like to know more about between and among.
Thanks

Saturnin

thank man that is easy dody from egypt byyyyeeeeeeee

dody

hi james,
How could i master basic english grammar without being sleepy during studying?
Thanks!

WINTER

hello James :)

i like this lesson, but can i ask u one question?
i do not know can i but i’m asking ^^
i do not understand this thing: i saw that there was written:” if i WERE a smarter man, i would be rich” why did u use WERE….i had been learning in school that i+ to be(in the Past.S) = WAS
is it wrong?
this situation make me confuse…please help me with it…)

Thanks a lot )*

Ruslana

Ruslana, James explains this at about 3:20 in the lesson. If you want to study more about this topic, please read about the SUBJUNCTIVE form in any English grammar book.

engVid

oh i am so sorry, forgive me my inattention … and thanks for help =)

Ruslana

Of course. Thanks for using the site.

engVid

Congratulations…….you are a great teacher!!!!!

roula

Hi, James, I like you smile=) Just keep smiling=)

hella

thank you.you are a very good teacher

danaila lucian

Thank You James

Sangee

no entiendo nadaq hablo español

dari

thank u james…

panneerselvam21

let’s listen to the song ” If i were a boy ” of Beyon C . You will know exactly what is imaginary sense .

JACK

But I hate Beyonce and that type of music!

engVid

i think the other lyrics of the songs are don’t have gramar..

joza

Hi James, thanks for the lesson, you have really been very helpful. I like your teaching style, I’m so glad there is a site to help indivduals who have trouble with english.

Von

Hi Comrade James.
I am very glad with you lovely lessons, iam a sudanese residing in Juba the capital of Southern Sudan. it’s really my pleasure to express my gratitude to you my teach, i wish you all the best

Hakim

Hi james,
I have doubt with what’s the difference between could,would,should. I hope you will rectifying my doubt.

yazar

thanks for help you are a great teacher

hassiba

hello there… it’s such a good thing that i could find a video like this. it’s very helpful. honestly, i understood the lesson perfectly. to whatever extent or degree, i hope it is possible for you to give a short teaching demo about the following topic: will/would in the ‘if’ clause. although i know the rules about this, i want to learn more.

really luv ur videos!I really need help in understanding different types of clauses and phrases and tips to identify them!!

Angel

Dear Mr.James:
I am working hard to improve my English language skills now a days and I have discovered that http://www.engvid.com is really helpful for English learners. I always watch your online lectures with a great interest; they are really remarkable. if you explain the use of “would have been “in one of your upcoming lectures. I will be very grateful.
Please do this favor to all new English learners and me.

M.Raheel. Zuberi
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

raheelzuberi

Thanks

tuyento

Hi Mr.James. I am glad to improve my english language by your great lessons.
FOR ME, you speak a little bit fast. but i will try to pick everything because still im new. My language is “PERSIAN”. Best of luck Mr. James.

shah399

I really like your style in teaching …
and am asking to add the ” Would have + been ”
how can i use it ?

Mr.MohamED

sacrifice

Thanks a lot,it helps me to remember this grammar better.

Naser

If I were to watch a lesson per day, I would really become a smart english student.

sheriroserocks

hello teacher
when ever i read English i had too much confusions in my mind but now teacher i’m satisfied n know more than before after watching ur videos on Engvid.Sir . plz don’t mind let me say that u r my favorite teacher .i can write but speaking skill needs improvement.Sir im from Pakistan. its my wish to talk with u once .
plz dont mind .
thanks n grateful forever Sir.
Thanks

farzana

you are the greatest teacher I have ever seen

sarab

I am very Grateful To attend you lessons, there are all understandable, I really Appreciated
God be with you

Hakim Kamula

thank you james

nadiaazam

Thank you.If I were able to see this video when I was young,my English would be better then now.

sharmila

hi how are you doing sir thank you too mush i wish to pesent more for enghlish please i wanna find out diferent of would be and should be

mike max

super! you are great!! congratulation:)!

IzA

Hello James,

Sometimes people use sentences like:

It would be pleasure to meet in person.
I wouldn’t do that.
I would do that.
etc

Here, is would targeting to future? what actually happing here. I often get confused with usage of would. Could please upload a video just for the simple usage of would instead of using in conditional.

Thank you for your future effort in advance.

ajsikka85

lovely website , its realy a nice moral service for English Language

vingaarcamp

Hi James
Thank you for your lessons, you´re an excellent teacher. Hey one question, do all videos have tests?? I ask you because I didn´t find it in this video.

Best regards, from Bogota, Colombia.

Jesus Prada

how about “would have”?

julianto

Where are the quizzes??????????????????????????????/

CREBIO AVILA

Ahhh… now i know it..thanks for the viseo it really helps…
actually its very confusing… huh? but i tried to listen…

james

Salam James,
Thank you for this useful lesson. But, I want to say that “was” is used instead of “were” in some grammar books?!!! So what’s the best one to be used?

meryam

Hi James,
Can we use suppose to instead of should? I would be really grateful to u if you explain to me the different between suppose to and should.
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks so much.

Noah

Hi, James!
What’s the difference between “would” and “could”?

ney92

Dear Jame,
I have one question to ask you explain me about how relationship between first, second, third condition and hypothesizing. You can see at OXFORD Upper-Intermediate Third Edition (page:151)for making sure to respond my questions. Thank you so much.

Piseyseth from Cambodia

youk piseyseth

hello James…ur lessons are really great.I like watching them.I’ve a question…what’s the difference of these 2 sentences:”I wish I were taller” and “I wish i would be taller”…thanks a lot..

amy25

thanks james for the great leeason and ilike wathing your lectur?

eng

Iam living here in coatzacoalcos veracruz mex.
and Im learning english whit you guys,Im 47 yeas old, congratulations,muchas gracias

ROBERTO

Phenomaenl breakdown of the topic, you should write for me too!

Kenisha

cristal clear james, but it is possible to say: if you study english harder, you WOULD be a good student. thanks!!

ilprosecutor

hello,teacher I have one question,how often do you refresh your lessons ? PS. thanks for yor lessons

marius

it was really useful thank u james

faryer

cant we use this sentence “if i WAS a smarter man ,i would be rich

mohammed

yup..this is true in my opinion :D

shlk

you can but it is used more in familiar language.

Lalena

Thank you James. You are wonderful teacher.

Cristian

Dear sir,
i can not take the classes so i want a book for english
thanks
shamsherkhan

shamsher khan

thanks :)

pedromedina86

Hello and thanks a lot because of yoyr video, Sorry I have a question, is this question form of the imaginary conditional?” Would it be all right if I went home early tonight?.Thanks a lot, bye bye

Carmen

Hello.
I’ve seen in video example: If E were to study he would be a good student.
Does sense of that sentence differ from “if E studied he would be a good student” ?
Is my example grammatically correct?
If yes, what do we need “V2B to” for?
Thanks.

Alexei

hi m.r james i’m glad that we have teacher like you..but i have question i know passive voice is used when you dont know who did the action but when you say : james was tagged in my photo..why dont we say james tagged in my photo..i will be really glad if you answer me thanks!

shlk

thx a lot mr

hesham21

Hey James! Thanks for this lesson. But i’ve got one question. Can i remove the parts of the sentence like this?:
“I would make it another way, if i were you”

Igor

the explanation is very clear>> Thank you^_^

altamimi24

Hi James . thanks for useful lesson but can I have my point? sorry , I think after would we have to put infinitive without :”to”

haleh

Hi James,
Wouldn’t this sentence be like that: If E studied, he would be a good student?
I didn’t understand the first clause. ( If E were t study)
Would you mind explaing it for me? If so, I will be really glad. Thanks a million.

Bilu

Could you please a make a video about conditional 3 and the mixed conditional? I’m particularly interested in the latter. Thanks in advance.

Elena

Hello Teacher. How are we going to use the zero infinitive?

superthiek

Hi James,

Thanks for teaching the way we understand. You taught us:

If + will= conditionals
If + would= imaginary

I want to know about “If I had studied harder I would have passed the exams”.

Kindly explain

Dharminder

If E were to study, he would be a good student. For the first time in my life I saw were+infinitive. . . Could anybody here explain me how it works? Thank you in advance.

Denis

hi james…you are very nice and effective teacher…can u teach me how to write report..

aloneratan

Thank you! :)

ellany08

HI james,
I’m a student of English and I’m preparing The FCE exam, you are of a great help for me. I love your way of teaching, I’d like to have a course about writing articles. Thanks a lot.

Adel

Thank you..

Rakesh

Hi James, Thank you for thr helpful lesson.
I would like to ask – why did you write “If E were to study…” and not “If E were Studying”?
This structure (“to study”) sounds weird to me.

yuval

Thank you very much for the job you do here for us!!!
I’m going to take IELTS where punctuation is important but it is still double Dutch for me. I would really appreciate if you could explain the punctuation rules in conditional sentences.
Why are there commas in some sentenses and no commas in others?
Thank you very much!

nataly

Hi James,I just found engvid few days ago.It’s great to refresh my English.
And you are a really great teacher.I wish,I could find some similar websites for another languages like German,Italian and French. Thanks

Mawinee maming

fantastic

prudhvichamala

Hi James, I have a question:

I know that there are only tree conditionals the 1st , 2nd, and 3rd, but I have found on internet a website which mention the following clasification for conditionals:

Present real conditonal
Present unreal conditonal
Past real conditonal
Past unreal conditonal
Future real conditonal
Future unreal conditonal

http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html

So I would like you explain us whether that kind of clasification is correct or not and how it is related with the 1st-2nd-3rd conditionals that everyone knows.

thanks

R Luis

Hi James,

After watching your video, I read so many books. For imaginary, every one used “were” after I.
If I were you……
(here why can’t we use was?)
Can you please drop me mai.. Bcz, I didn’t get the answer for this in anywhere…
plz..
plz…

riammu

Hi, James
I’d like to ask you about how to use wish and imaginary situation ?

Thanks.
Your video student, from Laos.

sisavanh

when ı foun this site ı really be happy.ıt is usefull.ı just learn english.ı am a teacher but you re better than me.

kaknus

hi James
i really like your lesson its helpful

simou25

thank you very much for this video!

edil

[…] You can also watch this video about using if, we we are learning about in Unit 9 Share […]

Tuesday Night PreIntermediate Class 6.3.12 | English with Renée

I thank you very lessons and I study English literature and became in the second year and formed a weak in grammar in English and I almost lose my studies that I found your website this who planted in my heart, hope, and then decided to continue in my studies of literature.

great2000

That’s cool James. Thanks for the good lesson.
Cheers,

leo

I like your teaching

sonyt007

thank you

mona

Hello teacher,,

I like ur lesson very much and I can understand with you!
ButI need more ditailse about this leasson becouse I start studay the conditional sentences with 1st, 2nd, ampnd 3rd conditional which are talking about present to future, unreal preanent, and unreal past.

Sometimes with mixed conditional sentences and I get confused a little bite.
Could you please help me in this grammar.

Thank you,

Mrs. Alali

Very nice James!!
You have done a great work!!
Because i was curiously in search of How and where Will and Would be used? but I couldn’t find it.
But in this lesson, I have found this.

“If i were find(found?) it, I would never take your lesson” :)
please correct my mistakes in the aforementioned sentence….:)

one question that if “would” always be used only with “were”? please tell me a few bit about this…

Thanks James…

Zeshan Ahmed

Very nice James!!
You have done a great work!!
Because i was curiously in search of How and where Will and Would be used? but I couldn’t find it.
But in this lesson, I have found this.
“If i were find(found?) it, I would never take your lesson” :)
please correct my mistakes in the aforementioned sentence….:)
one question that if “would” always be used only with “were”? please tell me a few bit about this…
Thanks James…

zeshanshani

Thanks. It is a good lesson!

pyuriy

Thank you so much james! I love your lesson.
but I have one question. I have no idea what diffrernces between ‘will’ and ‘would’.

will -> the boy is studying, so he
will be a good student.
would -> the boy is not studying, but if he were to study, he will be a good student.

I understood it in this way, but is it correct?
tell me anyone who knows about it.
always Thanks :)

ginnyya

thank you so much for your lesson

reza

Why did you not put a quiz?

wekachan

Its damn good lesson!

anggit

Its a very good lessons….its usefull and also needed to all person…thank you james…!!!!

Pooja

thank you James I’m always listen to your lessons but my question I need more about vocabulary so vocabulary IS my problem .

ABDULRAHIM HAMID

very usefull web site homies

david

u r really great i hav some questions.which topic shd b taught first?active passive or clauses or conditionals

fari khan

plz let me know i would b much thankfull to u.

fari khan

u r great!bundle of thanks

fari khan

Thank!
Your lessons really wery useful.
Could you please explane how to make opposite of word.
I know that it is possible with “re”,”in”,”im”..
But when use which? Is there any rules?
BR.

ilham

hi.
you have the best lesson ever.

i have question is imaginary mean samrthing that did mot happen but would happen?

yafeat

WOW I LOVE IT!

reginald

wonderful Explain

aldulimee

i really love you teacher you are the best you were the one that helping me thanks a lot

afnan

afnan from iraq

afnan

hey James,
It is really productive lesson for me.

prashant1974

and… the quiz??

jeff

hi james I have question

If I were to study
If I studied
what is diffirance between them?

hakan

Its a pleasure watching this video James..

You made my day. :-)

Abdul Aziz

thanks James ;)

jonathan325

Thank you for this lesson james

Yousef

Hi James
it is possible to do the lesson about mixed conditionals?I think they are useful as well…

MariaAnna89

Hello James,

I have a question related to this lesson.

Whenever we use “will” in the conditional sentence type 1, the result is 100% certain or just a likely situation??? There are two examples as follow:

A: If I study, I will pass the test.
(Maybe I will fail it even I study, it is
a likely result that I will pass it)

B: If you stop eating, you will feel hungry.
(It is 100% certain of the result.)

So, I am confused if the result clause is 100% certain or just a string likelihood if we use “will” in type 1 conditional.

Thanks.

kim1

geneveive

Thanks James,

Chandra kanth

hi james.first of all you are really the best dude, thank u for all these effort to teach us english.
and i have a question,when i was listening to u i can understand nearly everything that you say but when i was watching an american movie or something like that,it is really hard to understand everything that they say and sometimes it really feels me bad and desperate. why does it happen?do u have an idea? what is the difference between your and their speech?
thank u again best wishes.

ozgun5402

hi Jams could i ask you question?
I want to teach my sister the role of like +ing
could you tell me what are the best ways that can be used to make her understand?
thank u

lolo

Hi! James
i like this lesson i have gotten the difference between those two words. Again thanks

Imilih

Thanks James, awesome lesson…

argenis

Nice lesson!) But I have a question: is there always ” to be”? I mean as it is in the sentence ” If E were to study…”? And if it’s ” should ” or ” would “, it will be without ” to “, right? I hope I understood right…thank you! =)

anins

I understand this lesson – Thomas from Poland

7thomas7

Ty very much james

lolo

Thank you for your lesson !

moonbeam

Hi james sir,
can u make some quiz on this lesson?

RAHUL

Hi James,

Could you please offer us a quiz of this interesting lesson?
I love your lessons!!!
Thank you
Best wishes

Tania Aloisio

nice lessons.
thanks for all the engvid.com teacher’s

mohamed

hi sir… i have a question..
could we use the word COULD in imaginary or WOULD is only the right word for imaginary?!… thanks

nhica

I don’t understand this lesson

you can make other video
explaining this topic :S

elkrespo

hi…. I have a question.
I want to use if with this sentence “they didn’t have a map. they got lost”
I need to know which of these two kinds I have to use.
Thank you.

shiko10

“If they didn’t have a map,they would be got lost”

kushu

Thanks for the lesson and please can you explaine the lesson of conditionnel type 1 and 2 for me please i have an exam after 7 days thank you very much

sissou

Thank you so much, James.

At the lessons that I do, I ever leave a big comment. That’s the form that I found to improve my english writing. How you can see, I’ve got to study so much to it.

This lesson was very useful for my english stage. Will, would, were… Those are very confusing words for me to my everyday use.

If I understood this lesson, Now I will expand my english conversation capacity.

If I were a beginner student, I would watch this lesson immediatly.

See you, James!

claudio77

thank you

dilovan90

Great james thanks a lot

İ have a q for the first conditional sentences we must always use will could may must? what about should?can we use might ınstead of may or could instead of can i know about past tense but another teacher said some thing i got confuse

We can use modals in two ways :
FIRST USE(their first meaning)
SECOND USE(for degree of certainty)
I couldn’t get what is your actual question?
Please elaborate it. :)

kushu

Thank you James! Useful lecture to me

sgmmm

Hi teacher James, Great lesson as always, Could you please explain me a little bit about past unreal conditional inverted form? That confuses me a lot. Thanks in advance ;-)

dulce23

From a movie:
I’m just trying to create the space for wisdom.
Person 1: Okay, so you’re like Buddha, if he wasn’t so enlightened.
Person 2: And you’re like Jesus, if he was arrogant and all of his miracles were fake.

How “If” is used here ?

Fida Hasan

Okay, so here “if” is being used to describe imaginary situations. It’s funny because it starts out as a compliment, but by adding “if…”, it turns into an insult.

“You’re like Buddha/Jesus”…but an imaginary Buddha/Jesus who is the exact opposite of the real one — unenlightened instead of enlightened, arrogant instead of humble.

Does that help?

engVid Moderator

I got a doubt! You said that when it is imaginary you use If + were. In an example that you show us, you said If I were to study harder I would be … Can I say: If I were studying harder I would. Thank you very much for the video

larryvalera8

Awesome class! :D

deboraqs

Thank you Jmaes it was very interesting lesson. Cheers BOSS.

NAOUFEL. B

nice
and greetings for all

aladyn2008

great
but I have a question about (had had) and (could)
When we can use them in conditional?

koma

Thank you James, you’re very charming ;)

2Questionmark

Thank you.

Abdul Qayum

Thanks a lot for the lessons.
James can you explane me the words “Must” and “Have”, please….?

yusuf-nabotov

Perfect *-*
You are the best!

cirorafaelsa

thank you for the lesson!! it is much esier for me to use “if.. will-would” in the right way!!

Bo Cau

Excellent class, you only forget to add a quiz, to reinforce what I’ve learned

Gerard73

hi, I have a question because I don’t know that i understood good this lesson.
If I have that sentence:
Let me know IF you know what time WILL you have a train OR: Let me know if will you know what time have you train.
which sentence it good or maybe both are wrong
(btw sorry for my english but I just start learning)

Patrishia

Excellent class, and good teacher. James, please more grammar letions….I am 40 years old, I don’t speak English, but I like this English Grammar of classes…Thanks…

orgasmin10

hi James
thank you, i enjoy of that. but i cant understand the meaning of E in the circle. Could you writing that for me?
thanks
best regards

hamedhlm

Where is the quiz?

Akanksha solanki

THANK YOU SIR YOU ARE SO HELPFUL

Mounet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc I hope this song helps student too :) (its helped me to understand ) :)

VSK94

I read about conditional sentence, but I’m not really understand them all. Would you please explain to me; zero conditional, first conditional, second and third conditional sentences?

Adnanmajeed61

where’s the quiz?

ZatyHA

Hello James, you’re the best teacher ever! Thanks for your lessons, they really give me more information than I’d got during my school years.

Can you please make a lesson about mixed conditionals? It’s so hard and confusing theme for me, I’d appreciate if you could.

sunny.alice

I like how you start the lesson!lol. Good lesson. Thanks :):)

Sayaka.S

Good lesson James.I would like to thank you for all the help you are giving me through this videos to get better.Thanks!!!

CavFanatic23

please put quizzes, teacher !!!

gag

There is no quizz

Mohamed Elsherbiny

Hi there, i’m new here. i have a question, James told us that If+were/would means that it is imaginary. My question is, after that would, do i need to use past verb or present verb. for example:
If she were a good person, she would never cheated on you. or if she were a good person, she would never cheat on you. thank you very much.

Indra Wicaksono

thank you teacher james =)

Nadia

I dont know why we use ‘Be’with will/would/should…??? Plz help me..

Gurmukh Singh

Hi,
I enjoyed the lesson.

Congraulations!

Deidre Senra

thank you teacher james =)

njoud1993

Thanks teacher… good lesson!!

ktrinal

Thank you so much, greetings,

Marta Lopez

Could you please add a Quiz on this lesson ?

mustafa.91

Hi, thanks for this lesson. I’m so proud to understand what you say. At first,when I watched some videos I thought they were too difficult for me, but now it’s quite clear! I really appreciate your teaching skills.

Rudiane

¿Donde puedo hacer el quiz?

Karen Diaz

Is it possible to say “If he studied he would be a good student” instead of “If he were to study he would be…”?

efiol

If he studied he would be a good student. — it is a standard form of the 2nd Conditional.
If he were to study he would be a good student. — if you use «were to do smth», you want to emphatize that this situation is highly unlikely to happen.

JaneJe

sorry – emphaSize

JaneJe

Thanks a lot teacher James from EngVid, I thought that when you use “If + present simple + future simple” is the First Conditional and when you use “If + past simple + conditional simple” is the Second Conditional but now it’s also the Imaginary Tense, a new concept for me. Good explanation and performance. It’s all right.