Forme
Dans une phrase du conditionnel type 2, la proposition introduite par "if" est au passé simple et la proposition principale est au conditionnel présent ou au conditionnel présent continu.
| Proposition introduite par "if" (condition) | Proposition principale (résultat) |
|---|---|
| If + passé simple | conditionnel présent ou conditionnel présent continu |
| If this thing happened | that thing would happen. |
Comme dans toutes les phrases conditionnelles, l'ordre des propositions n'est pas fixe. On aura peut-être à modifier la ponctuation ou à ajuster les pronoms quand on change l'ordre des propositions, mais le sens sera identique.
Exemples
- If it rained, you would get wet.
- You would get wet if it rained.
- If you went to bed earlier you wouldn't be so tired.
- You wouldn't be so tired if you went to bed earlier.
- If she fell, she would hurt herself.
- She would hurt herself if she fell.
Fonction
Le conditionnel type 2 se réfère à une condition hypothétique et son résultat probable. Ces phrases ne se basent pas sur un fait. Le conditionnel type 2 reflète une action ayant lieu maintenant ou à n'importe quel moment et une situation irréelle.
Exemples
- If the weather wasn't so bad, we would go to the park. (But the weather is bad so we can't go.)
- If I was the Queen of England, I would give everyone a chicken. (But I am not the Queen.)
- If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.
- If I knew where she lived, I would go and see her.
Il est correcte, et tres commun, et dire "if I were" au lieu de "if I was".
Exemples
- If I were taller, I would buy this dress.
- If I were 20, I would travel the world.
- If I were you, I would give up smoking.
- If I were a plant, I would love the rain.
Dans une phrase du conditionnel type 2 on peut utiliser d'autres verbes modaux dans la proposition principale à la place de "would" pour exprimer le degré de certitude du résultat, la permission, ou une recommandation.
Exemples
- We might buy a larger house if we had more money
- He should go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.
- If he called me, I couldn't hear.
Le conditionnel présent
Le conditionnel présent de n'importe quel verbe est composé de deux éléments:
l'auxiliaire modal "would" + l'infinitif du verbe principal, sans "to".
| Sujet | + would | + l'infinitif |
|---|---|---|
| He | would | go |
| They | would | stay |
To Go: conditionnel présent
| Affirmatif | Négatif | Interrogatif | Interrogatif Négatif |
|---|---|---|---|
| I would go | I wouldn't go | Would I go? | Wouldn't I go? |
| You would go | You wouldn't go | Would you go? | Wouldn't you go? |
| He would go | He wouldn't go | Would he go? | Wouldn't he go? |
| She would go | She wouldn't go | Would she go? | Wouldn't she go? |
| We would go | We wouldn't go | Would we go? | Wouldn't we go? |
| They would go | They wouldn't go | Would they go? | Wouldn't they go? |