El segundo conditional

Introducción

Se usa el segundo condicional para describir una situación en el presente que no es real y su resultado si lo imaginamos es real.

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

"If I took the bus" es una situación en el presente que no es real.
"I would arrive at 7pm" es el resultado si uno se imagina que la situación fuera real.

Ejemplos:

If I owned that house, I would paint it a different colour.
No soy el dueño de esa casa por lo que el pintarlo de otro color es un resultado imaginado.
If I lived in Italy, I would learn to cook Italian food.
Usted no vive en Italia por lo que aprender a cocinar comida italiana es un resultado imaginado.
If Tom were rich, he would buy an expensive car.
Tom no es rico por lo que la compra de un coche caro es un resultado imaginado.
If you were me, would you take the train or the bus?
Usted no es yo. ¿Cuál sería su consejo si se imaginara que usted fuera yo?

Forma - condicional y oración principal

Se forma el segundo condicional con una cláusula condicional y una cláusula principal:

cláusula condicional: "if" + pasado simple
cláusula principal: "would" + infinitivo (sin "to")

El orden de las cláusulas no importa: el significado es el mismo.

Se usa una coma si se pone la cláusula condicional antes de la oración principal:

Cláusula condicional	Cláusula principal
"If" + pasado simple + coma	"would" + infinitivo (sin "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.

No se usa coma si se pone la cláusula principal antes de la cláusula condicional:

Cláusula principal	Cláusula condicional
"would" + infinitivo (sin "to")	"If" + pasado simple
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.

Sólo se usa "were" (no "was") para el pasado simple de "be" en la cláusula condicional.
Se puede contraer el pronombre sujeto y "would": "I´d" / "you´d" / "we´d" / "they´d" / "she´d" / "he´d" / "it´d"
Se puede usar el pasado continuo en la cláusula condicional:
If I were being honest, I would tell him that I don’t like the food.
No estoy siendo honesto porque no le he dicho que no me gusta la comida.

Práctica

Complete las frases para formar el segundo condicional con la forma correcta del verbo entre paréntesis:
.

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)

Más práctica

Complete las frases eligiendo la respuesta correcta entre A, B, C o D:
.

1)

I would be surprised if she ____ the job.

not take

didn’t took

didn't take

doesn't takes

2)

They ____ to Bolivia if they had the chance.

'd goes

would gone

'd go

would went

3)

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

goes

go

gone

went

4)

I’d cook steak if he ____ meat.

eaten

ate

eat

eats

5)

He ____ weight if he had a healthier diet.

'd lost

would lost

'd lose

would loses

6)

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

didn't have

not have

didn't had

did not has

El uso de "could", "might"

Se puede usar "could" or "might" en lugar de "would" en la cláusula principal de la segunda condicional.

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

... he would buy an expensive car.
"would" describe la intención de Tom de comprarse el coche.
... he could buy an expensive car.
"could" describe el hecho de que Tom pudiera comprarse el coche.
.... he might buy an expensive car.
"might" describe la posibilidad de que Tom pudiera comprar el coche.