Ciao a tutti!

Last week I presented a quiz on the subjunctive, and I received lots of responses! See the answers below to see how you did:

I think they are rich. – Penso che siano ricchi.

I want you to work. – Voglio che tu lavori.

The teacher wants the students to listen. – La maestra vuole che gli studenti ascoltino.

He thinks that Caterina is wrong. – Crede che Caterina abbia torto.

We’re not sure he understands. – Non siamo sicuri che lui capisca.

We doubt that she will arrive. – Dubitiamo che lei arrivi.

Will you let me read? (formal) – Permetti che io legga? OR Mi permitti di leggere?

I insist that you sell these books. – Insisto che tu venda questi libri.

It’s important that they speak with the teacher. – E’ importante che loro parlino con la maestra.

If they had gone to Italy, they would have visited many cities. – Se fossero andati in Italia, avrebbero visitato molte città.

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I had mentioned that the bonus was particularly challenging, because it is an improbable hypothetical sentence. 

A hypothetical sentence (periodo ipotetico) consists of two clauses. The first is a dependent clause introduced by se (if)
indicating a condition, a possibility, or a hypothesis. The second is an independent clause indicating the result of the condition.
A hypothetical sentence can express real situations, probable situations, and improbable situations.

Real
Se vanno in Italia, visitano molte città.
(If they go to Italy, they (will) visit many cities.)

Probable
Se andassero in Italia, visiterebbero molte città.
(If they went to Italy, they would visit many cities.)

Improbable
Se fossero andati in Italia, avrebbero visitato molte città.
(If they had gone to Italy, they would have visited many cities.)

When unlikely situations are described, the se clause is in the imperfect subjunctive and the result clause is in the conditional:

Se lui avesse una macchina, andrebbe in montagna.
(If he had a car, he would go to the mountains.)

When impossible situations are described, the se clause is in the past perfect subjunctive and the result clause is in the conditional perfect:

Se avesse studiato, avrebbe superato l’esame.
(If she had studied, she would have passed the test.)

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To practice some more of these periodo ipotetico, translate the following sentences in the comments:

If I had the money, I would travel more.

If it’s too expensive, I will not buy it.

If you don’t understand, I will explain it again.

If I was born in Italy, I would speak Italian.

If you had left on time, you wouldn’t have been late.

If you were an animal, which one would you be?

If I was rich, I’d buy a house in Rome.