Second conditionnel

Introduction

On utilise le second conditionnel pour décrire une situation au présent qui n'est pas réelle, et son résultat si on imagine qu'il est réel.

If I took the bus, I would arrive at 7pm.

"If I took the bus" ("si je prenais le bus") est une situation au présent qui n'est pas réelle.
"I would arrive at 7pm" ("j'arriverai à 19h") est le résultat si j'imagine que la situation est réelle.

Exemples:

If I owned that house, I would paint it a different colour.
Cette maison ne m'appartient pas donc la peindre d'une autre couleur est un résultat imaginé.
If I lived in Italy, I would learn to cook Italian food.
Je n'habite pas en Italie donc apprendre à cuisiner des plats italiens est un résultat imaginé.
If Tom were rich, he would buy an expensive car.
Tom n'est pas riche donc acheter une voiture de luxe est un résultat imaginé.
If you were me, would you take the train or the bus?
Vous n'êtes pas moi. Quel conseil me donneriez-vous si vous imaginez que vous l'êtes?

Forme - conditionnel et proposition principale

On forme le second conditionnel avec une proposition conditionnelle et une proposition principale:

Proposition conditionnelle: "if" + prétérit
Proposition principale: "would" + infinitif (sans "to")

L'ordre des propositions n'est pas important: le sens est le même.

Si on met la proposition conditionnelle avant la proposition principale, on utilise une virgule:

Proposition conditionnelle	Proposition principale
"If" + prétérit + virgule	"would" + infinitif (sans "to")
If I took the bus,	I would arrive at 7pm.
If I owned that house,	I would paint it a different colour.
If I lived in Italy,	I would learn to cook Italian food.
If you were me,	would you take the train or the bus?
If Tom were rich,	he would buy an expensive car.

On n'utilise pas de virgule si on met la proposition principale avant la proposition conditionnelle:

Proposition principale	Proposition conditionnelle
"would" + infinitif (sans "to")	"if" + prétérit
I would arrive at 7pm	if I took the bus.
I would paint that house a different colour	if I owned it.
I would learn to cook Italian food	if I lived in Italy.
Would you take the train or the bus	if you were me?
Tom would buy an expensive car	if he were rich.

On utilise "were" (pas "was") pour le prétérit de "be" dans la proposition conditionnelle.
On peut contracter le pronom sujet et "would": "I’d" / "you’d" / "we’d" / "they’d" / "she’d" / "he’d" / "it’d"
On peut utiliser le prétérit continu dans la proposition conditionnelle.
If I were being honest, I would tell him that I don’t like the food.
Je ne suis pas sincère donc je ne lui ai pas dit que je n'aime pas la nourriture.

Exercices d'entraînement

Complétez les phrases en mettant le verbe entre parenthèses à la forme correcte du second conditionnel:
.

1)

If I to London, I would go to St. Paul’s cathedral. (go)

2)

Jack and Emily would get a cat if they near a busy road. (not live)

3)

I'd you to the Lake District if you came to London. (take)

4)

If I gave you £100, what would you with it? (do)

E xercices d'entraînement supplémentaires

Complétez les phrases en choisissant la réponse correcte entre a, b, c or d:
.

1)

I would be surprised if she ____ the job.

didn't take

didn’t took

not take

doesn't takes

2)

They ____ to Bolivia if they had the chance.

'd go

would gone

'd goes

would went

3)

Would you ____ to the conference if the company were paying for the tickets?

go

goes

went

gone

4)

I’d cook steak if he ____ meat.

eaten

eats

ate

eat

5)

He ____ weight if he had a healthier diet.

would loses

'd lose

'd lost

would lost

6)

Sarah said she would come to the party with me if she ____ a headache.

not have

didn't had

didn't have

did not has

Utilisation de "could", "might"

On peut utiliser "could" ou "might" au lieu de "would" dans la proposition principale du second conditionnel.

If Tom were rich, he would buy an expensive car.

... he would buy an expensive car.
"would" suggeste que Tom à l'intention d'acheter une voiture.
... he could buy an expensive car.
"could" suggeste que Tom est capable d'acheter une voiture.
.... he might buy an expensive car.
"might" suggeste qu'il est possible que Tom achète une voiture.