hypothesis

[bender9]

To an English native, which one of the following is more natural?

1. If you had lost your key, what would you do?
2. If you lost your key, what would you do?

Is the first one more of hypothesis than the second one?
Thank you.

 

[richuk]

To an English native, which one of the following is more natural?

1. If you had lost your key, what would you do?
2. If you lost your key, what would you do?

Is the first one more of hypothesis than the second one?
Thank you.

Not a teacher

I would say this:
"1. If you had lost your key, what would you do?"

 

[billmcd]

In common, everyday AmE #2 you will probably hear "If you lost your key, what would you do?" But really what it should be is: "If you had lost your key, what would you have done?" The person didn't lose their key ("if you had lost") so, the question (..what would you have done?) is about an action that didn't happen either because the condition didn't occur. It is a third conditional form.