Conditional in Hypothetical Main Clauses

Level 4

A remote condition normally pairs imperfect subjunctive after si with conditional in the main clause.

How It Works

The si clause supplies the imagined condition; the main clause supplies its consequence. Use si tingués temps with vindria, not a conditional form inside that ordinary si clause. The condition can refer to the present or future despite its imperfect form.

For an unreal past condition, use pluperfect subjunctive and normally conditional perfect: si hagués tingut temps, hauria vingut. A condition about the past can also have a present result, so mixed time references are possible when their meaning is clear.

The main clause need not be stated first. A comma ordinarily separates an initial conditional clause from the main clause; the word order does not change the tense relationship.

Examples (3)

  1. Si tingués temps, vindria.

    If I had time, I would come.

  2. Ho compraríem si fos més barat.

    We would buy it if it were cheaper.

  3. Si hagués estudiat, hauria aprovat.

    If she had studied, she would have passed.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting conditional in the ordinary hypothetical si clause.

    Si tindria temps, vindria.
    Si tingués temps, vindria.

    The remote condition uses imperfect subjunctive tingués; conditional vindria belongs in the consequence.

How It Connects

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Conditional in Hypothetical Main ClausesLevel 4

Learn This First

Recognize conditional forms before using them for a remote consequence or future-from-past. Recognize subjunctive forms and nonasserted content before extending the mood to new clauses.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.