Conditions Inside Reports
Mixed: a past if with a present result. Reported: the if-clause is subjunctive and the result is an infinitive.
How It Works
| Kind | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mixed | si heri venisset, hodie hic esset | if he had come yesterday, he would be here today |
| reported | dixit se, si posset, venturum esse | he said he would come if he could |
| reported, past | dixit se, si id scisset, venturum fuisse | he said he would have come if he had known this |
Each half takes its own tense: pluperfect subjunctive for the past if, imperfect subjunctive for a present result.
The Gospel of John uses a mixed condition: si non venissem, ... peccatum non haberent.
Check the tense of each half separately, and then put the halves together.
Examples (5)
- Si heri venisset, hodie hic esset.
If he had come yesterday, he would be here today.
Venisset looks back to the past, and esset describes the present result.
- Si dives essem, villam emissem.
If I were rich, I would have bought the villa.
The if-clause is about the present state, and the result is in the past.
- Dixit se, si posset, venturum esse.
He said that he would come if he could.
The if-clause is subjunctive, and the result is a future infinitive.
- Dixit se, si id scisset, venturum fuisse.
He said that he would have come if he had known this.
Venturum fuisse reports a result that did not happen.
- Si non venissem, et locutus fuissem eis, peccatum non haberent.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin.
John 15:22. A past if with a present result: venissem and locutus fuissem, then haberent.
Common Mistakes
Putting an indicative in the result of a mixed condition.
Si heri venisset, hodie hic est.Si heri venisset, hodie hic esset.A condition that begins with a pluperfect subjunctive needs a subjunctive result. Est is indicative and does not fit.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A condition can sit inside a report.
Related Patterns
Practice Conditions Inside Reports in Bubblegum
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