Conditional Conjunctions

Level 2

Albanian uses different conjunctions for 'if' depending on the likelihood of the condition. Nëse is for facts, po të is for possibilities, and sikur is for hypothetical or unreal scenarios.

How It Works

Conditional sentences consist of a condition (protasis) and a result (apodosis).

1. Real Conditions (Type 1)
Use nëse for likely or factual situations. Në qoftë se is a formal alternative. Both take the indicative mood. Note: You do not normally use the future tense immediately after nëse; use the present tense instead.

2. Potential Conditions
In speech, po të is very common for 'if'. It must be followed by the subjunctive mood. It suggests the condition is possible but not guaranteed.

3. Counterfactual Conditions (Unreal)
Use sikur to express 'if only' or 'if' in situations that are contrary to fact (e.g., 'If I were a bird'). Like po të, it requires the subjunctive, usually in the imperfect tense to describe the present unreal.

Examples (6)

  1. Nëse ke kohë, hajde për vizitë.

    If you have time, come for a visit.

    Word by Word: If (you) have time, come for visit.

    A real condition using 'nëse' with the present indicative.

  2. Në qoftë se nuk pajtoheni, na njoftoni.

    If you do not agree, inform us.

    Word by Word: In case that not (you) agree, us inform.

    A formal real condition using 'në qoftë se'.

  3. Po të mësosh më shumë, do të marrësh nota të mira.

    If you study more, you will get good grades.

    Word by Word: If to (you) study more, will to (you) get grades the good.

    A potential condition using 'po të' followed by the subjunctive mood.

  4. Sikur të isha në Tiranë, do të takoheshim.

    If I were in Tirana, we would meet.

    Word by Word: If to (I) were in Tirana, will to (we) meet.

    Using 'sikur' with the imperfect subjunctive to express a counterfactual (unreal) condition.

  5. Nëse bie shi, do të qëndrojmë brenda.

    If it rains, we will stay inside.

    Word by Word: If falls rain, will to (we) stay inside.

    Note that 'bie' (rains) is in the present indicative, even though the result is in the future.

  6. Po të kisha para, do ta blija këtë makinë.

    If I had money, I would buy this car.

    Word by Word: If to (I) had money, will it (I) buy this car.

    Using 'po të' with the imperfect subjunctive to express a hypothetical situation.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'do të' after 'nëse' for a plain future condition.

    Different MeaningNëse do të vish nesër, do të shkojmë.
    Nëse vjen nesër, do të shkojmë.

    Nëse do të vish is a correct phrase: it asks about a plan, 'if you are going to come' or 'if you want to come'. For a plain future condition, the present tense is the usual choice, as in the right sentence.

  • Leaving out 'të' when 'po' means 'if'.

    Po shkon atje, do ta shohësh.
    Po të shkosh atje, do ta shohësh.

    On its own, po shkon usually reads as the progressive 'you are going'. With 'të', po të shkosh clearly means 'if you go'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Conditional ConjunctionsLevel 2

Learn This First

To learn conditional conjunctions like 'nëse' and 'po', you need to be able to conjugate verbs in the present and future tenses to form logical 'if-then' statements. Additionally, understanding the subjunctive mood is essential for expressing hypothetical or uncertain conditions.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

nësenë qoftë se