Second conditional

The second conditional always refers to situations now or in the future. The past tense in the if-clause does not show past time. It is a special use of the past simple to show an unreal or imaginary situation.
If I had more time, I would travel more often.
Reality: I don't have much time and I don't travel often.
She would have more friends if she went out more.
Reality: She doesn't go out much and she doesn't have many friends.
If you lost your job, what would you do?
Supposing your employer offered you a job abroad, would you take it?
These show imaginary situations at some time in the future.
We often use the second conditional when discussing choices and future plans. The first conditional can also be used in this situation, but the second conditional is less certain, more tentative.
If we go to Paris next weekend, we can visit Pierre.
If we went to Paris next weekend, we could visit Pierre.
In the second example, the suggestion is weaker. This is useful when you do not want to push an idea on another person too strongly.

It is common to use other modals besides would in the result clause to express various ideas.
If I won the lottery, I would retire.
Certain result.
If I won the lottery, I might retire.
Uncertain result.
If I had a lot of money, I could retire.
I would be able to retire (but I might not).

These are used when considering imaginary situations in the future.
Supposing you lost all your money, what would you do?
Imagine you were shipwrecked on a desert island. How would you survive?Note: Supposing is used as a conjunction in the example above while imagine functions as a verb. Imagine is not shown in dictionaries as a conjunction, but it is sometimes used in this way (although grammar purists may not accept this.) Imagine you could do any job you wanted, what would you do?Suppose is often used to start the first of two sentences expressing a conditional:
Suppose you were in charge. How would you handle it?
In a more formal style, second conditional sentences can be made without if using the structure were + subject + infinitive in the condition clause
Were* you to accept their job offer, would you have to start immediately?
If you accepted their job offer, would you have to start immediately.

* This is a subjunctive form and is also used with if in a formal style. (See the next note below.)

In more formal spoken and written English, we can use If + subject + were + to-infinitiveIf we were* to offer a discount, do you think they would accept?
If we offered a discount, do you think they would accept?

*This structure is usually in the subjunctive - a verb form used in formal style to refer to possibilities rather than facts or certainties. In the subjunctive with if, the verb to be in the past has one form only: were:
If I were / If you were / If he were etc. Not, If I was to...