Second Conditional

We use the second conditional when we imagine a situation or when there is

very little or no possibility that something will happen.
Usiamo il secondo tipo di condizionale quando immaginiamo una situazione o
quando parliamo di eventi futuri poco probabili o impossibili.

Type If clause Main clause

0
1
2 simple past Would + infinitive (without to)
3

Esempio:

Se Tom studiasse, avrebbe voti migliori. If Tom studied, he would get better
marks.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house. Se vincessi la lotteria, comprerei
una casa nuova.
At the moment, it's raining. If it was sunny, I'd go out. Se ci fosse il sole, uscirei.

Instead of would, we can use could (ability), might (possibility), should

(advice). Al posto di would, potremmo usare could, might, should.

If it wasn't dark outside, we could go out. Se non fosse buio, potremmo uscire.
If I finished my homework soon, I might go to the cinema. Se finissi subito i
compiti, potrei andare al cinema.
You shouldn’t go out, if you have an exam tomorrow. Non dovresti uscire, se hai
un esame domani.

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:

If I were rich, I would help the needy people. Se fossi ricco, aiuterei I bisognosi.

1
 1. We do not use will or would in the if-part of a conditional sentence. Non
si usa will o would nella if clause.
If she will come comes, we’ll go to the cinema.
2. The if clause can go at the beginning or at the end. La frase con if può
andare all’inizio o alla fine:
If she comes, we’ll go to the cinema. We’ll go to the cinema, if she comes.
3. If the first verb is should, were or had we can leave out if and put the
verb at the start of the clause (formal language). Se il primo verbo è
should, were or had possiamo omettere if e collocare il verbo all’inizio della
frase (linguaggio formale):
Dovesse lei scoprire la verità, sarebbe imbarazzante. Were she to find out the
truth, it would be embarrassing.
Dovessi arrivare tardi, chiamami per favore. Should you arrive late, phone me
please.

Put the verb in the correct form to complete each sentence.

1. What would you do if you ____________(win) a million dollars?
2. If people stopped using cars completely, there ____________(be) much less
pollution.
3. If I spoke English fluently, I _________________(not/need) to take lessons.
4. If Siberia ____________________(not/be) so cold, I'd go there in winter.
5. If it _______________(not/rain) so much in England, you wouldn't see so many
umbrellas.
6. If you ________________(can) choose any company, which company would you
like to work for?

*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
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
aboutConditionals.Ascoltate attentamente i seguenti video di youtube,
essi parlano delperiodo ipotetico.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcWwk-2TLo4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7O-2nQKc-g