Conditionnel Type 2

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.

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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?
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