Conditional bih / bi / bismo / biste

The Conditional

Level 3

The conditional combines bih/bi/bismo/biste with a participle.

How It Works

Compare ja bih došao/došla, mi bismo došli/došle and vi biste došli/došle. Standard first-person singular and first/second-person plural keep their distinct auxiliary endings.

The construction can express a wish, a hypothetical result or a softened proposal. A separate if-clause is not required every time.

In statements the auxiliary follows the clitic pattern. In questions it can also stand first before li, as in Biste li došli? Negation gives ne bih, ne bi, ne bismo and ne biste, written with ne separate.

Examples (3)

  1. Rado bih došla.

    I would gladly come.

    Bih marks first-person singular; došla identifies a female speaker.

  2. Mi bismo ostali ovdje.

    We would stay here.

    Bismo is first-person plural.

  3. Biste li otvorili prozor?

    Would you open the window?

    Biste is plural or polite second-person address.

How It Connects

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Conditional bih / bi / bismo / bisteLevel 3The Conditional

Learn This First

The conditional auxiliary combines with an agreeing active participle.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

biti