-ले असते तर … -ले नसते
Full Unreal Conditions
The form describes what did not happen and what would have followed, and it agrees with its subject or object.
How It Works
Level 5 introduced असते तर for a simple unreal situation. Written Marathi finishes the picture by putting the past form in both halves: the past form, then असते (or असता, असती, असत्या, and असतो with मी for a man).
| Doer or object | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | केला असता | केला नसता |
| Feminine, and neuter plural | केली असती | केली नसती |
| Neuter, and masculine plural | केले असते | केले नसते |
| Feminine plural | केल्या असत्या | केल्या नसत्या |
A completed action with -ने agrees with an object that has no ending, as everywhere in the past: त्याने औषध घेतले असते (औषध is neuter). Without -ने, the verb agrees with the subject: मी निघाले असते (a woman), मी निघालो असतो (a man).
The tense of both halves is usually the same. A result that reaches into now can use असतो: मी अभ्यास केला असता, तर आज यशस्वी असतो. A plain present or future in one half breaks the pattern.
The pattern expresses regret or a lesson: आपण नाले वेळेवर साफ केले असते, तर रस्त्यावर पाणी साचले नसते. Editorials and reports use it to talk about what could have been done.
The word तर can be dropped in a short sentence, and the comma stays. The result can also stay unsaid: आधी सांगितले असते तर! (If only you had said so earlier!)
Examples (5)
- आपण नाले वेळेवर साफ केले असते, तर रस्त्यावर पाणी साचले नसते.
If we had cleaned the drains on time, water would not have collected on the road.
Both halves use a past form with असते or नसते, and साचले नसते agrees with the neuter पाणी.
- तुम्ही आधी विचारले असते, तर मी मदत केली असती.
If you had asked earlier, I would have helped.
मदत is feminine, so केली असती agrees with it.
- त्याने वेळीच औषध घेतले असते, तर आजार वाढला नसता.
If he had taken the medicine in time, the illness would not have grown.
घेतले agrees with the neuter औषध, and वाढला नसता agrees with आजार.
- पाऊस आणखी तासभर पडला असता, तर शहर पाण्याखाली गेले असते.
If it had rained for another hour, the city would have gone under water.
Both halves use a past form with असता or असते.
- तिने डॉक्टरांचा सल्ला ऐकला असता, तर तिला त्रास झाला नसता.
If she had followed the doctor's advice, she would not have had trouble.
ऐकला agrees with the masculine सल्ला, and झाला नसता agrees with the masculine त्रास.
Common Mistakes
Using a present form in the result half.
ती वेळेवर निघाली असती, तर गाडी चुकत नाही.ती वेळेवर निघाली असती, तर गाडी चुकली नसती.A plain present does not fit; the result needs असती or नसती.
Agreeing the verb with the doer when -ने is used.
त्याने औषध घेतली असती, तर आजार वाढला नसता.त्याने औषध घेतले असते, तर आजार वाढला नसता.औषध is neuter, so the verb is घेतले असते.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A full counterfactual covers both parts.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice -ले असते तर … -ले नसते in Bubblegum
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