Second Condtional

Type Conditional sentences

If clause Main clause
0
1
2 Simple Past Would + bare infinitive (conditional)
3

• Si usa per parlare di eventi futuri poco probabili o impossibili/it is used

to speak about either unlikely or impossibile future events:

Se studiasse, avrebbe voti migliori. If he studied, he would get better marks.

Se vincessi la lotteria, comprerei una casa nuova. If I won the lottery, I
would buy a new house.

• Quando il verbo della “if clause” è to be usiamo were nel linguaggio

formale per tutte le persone e was/were nel linguaggio informale/ When
the main verb of the if clause is to be, we use were for all the persons
in the formal language and was/were in the informal language:

Se fossi ricco, aiuterei i bisognosi. If I were rich, I’d help the needy people.

• Invece di would possiamo usare could (per indicare abilità), might (per
indicare possibilità), should (per dare un consiglio)/ instead of would
we can use could (ability), might (possibilità), should (advice):

Se vivessi nel centro, potrei arrivare più presto al lavoro. If I lived in the
center, I could arrive at work earlier.
Se finissi presto i compiti, potrei andare al cinema. If I finished my homework
soon, I might go to the cinema.
Non dovresti uscire se domani hai una verifica. You shouldn’t go out if you
have an exam tomorrow.

• Se il primo verbo di una frase ipotetica è should, were o had possiamo

anche omettere if e collocare il verbo all’inizio della frase (linguaggio
formale)/If the first verb in a conditional if clause is should, were
or had we can leave out if and put the verb at the start of the
clause (formal language):

Dovesse lei scoprire la verità, sarebbe imbarazzante. Were she to find out the
truth, it would be embarassing.
Dovessi arrivare tardi, chiamami per favore. Should you arrive late, please
phone me.
*Interactive Exercises
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/410/grammar/2cond1.htm
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/secondconditional/exercise2.swf
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/secondconditional/exercise4.swf
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/gr_movie/s_1_2_cond/index.htm movie
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/if_clauses/type_2_mix4.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/if_clauses/type_2_mix2.htm

*Please note:
Listen carefully to the following videos in youtube, they speak about
Conditionals.
Ascoltate attentamente i seguenti video di youtube, essi parlano del
periodo ipotetico.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcWwk-2TLo4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7O-2nQKc-g