About the second conditional

Question

Hi all estoy estudiando el segundo condicional y tengo unas preguntas. Estas frases

If I (were/was?) president I´d reduce the taxes.

busqué en internet y encontré

If I were a carpenter And you were a lady Would you marry me anyway? de Jhonny Cash.

y este tipo Justin Bieber dice

If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go... :S

Poner canciones para aprender inglés es tonto.. pero es mi manera de recordar. Agradezco cualquier ayuda.

Answer 1

I've never heard of Second Conditional although it may be a grammar term I have not yet encountered in my casual study of such.

But since you are Spanish speaking and intermediate in English here are some other English expressions that communicate conditional sense:

Should you choose to join us,...

I might be inclined to lend you the money...

I would travel more, if I had the money.

Answer 2

If I were - is correct as it is for all other pronouns.

The "were" is the English subjunctive (the only verb that changes in the subjunctive)

If I "was" you - is strictly speaking - not correct, but you will hear and see all the time.

Answer 3

The English language does technically have a subjunctive mood. However, it is starting to fade away. We have started using the indicative even where the subjunctive should technically go.

If I were a carpenter/And you were a lady/Would you marry me anyway? (Johnny Cash)

This is grammatically correct, at least in terms of the use of the subjunctive form of to be (were).

If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go (Justin Bieber)

This, technically, violates English grammar. As it is a contrary to fact statement, it should you the word were, instead of was. However, the subjunctive has started to become obsolete, and is often replaced by the indicative in English. So, as Ian said, you will often here the use of the indicative in the place of the subjunctive in English. So, you should be prepared to hear both forms of to be in this sort of sentence.