If He Were Coming: si veniret

How It Works

Examples (5)

1. Si Marcus adesset, Iulia rideret.

   If Marcus were here, Iulia would be laughing.

   Adesset and rideret are imperfect subjunctive. Marcus is not here.

2. Si pecuniam haberem, villam emerem.

   If I had money, I would buy a house.

   Haberem and emerem are the imperfect subjunctive. I have no money.

3. Si me amares, mecum maneres.

   If you loved me, you would stay with me.

   Amares and maneres are imperfect subjunctive, and the sentence describes the present.

4. Si Latine scirem, libros Ciceronis legerem.

   If I knew Latin, I would read the books of Cicero.

   Scirem and legerem are imperfect subjunctive. I do not know Latin yet.

5. Si sacerdos hic esset, missa celebraretur.

   If the priest were here, Mass would be celebrated.

   Esset and the passive celebraretur are imperfect subjunctive.

Common Mistakes

• Making the main part a future after an unreal if-part.

  Si pecuniam haberem, villam emam.

  Si pecuniam haberem, villam emerem.

  Both halves take the imperfect subjunctive. The English would does not turn the main verb into a future: emam would say I will buy.

How It Connects

Learn This First

A condition that is not true now uses the imperfect subjunctive.

• If He Should Come: si veniatIf He Should Come

  Know the less vivid condition, because it also uses the subjunctive.

  Level 5
• Imperfect Subjunctive: amarem

  Know the imperfect subjunctive, because si veniret uses it.

  Level 5

Related Patterns

• If He Had Come: si venisset

  A condition that was not true in the past.

  Level 5
• If Only: utinam

  A wish about the present uses the same imperfect.

  Level 5

Words in This Pattern