There are several ways in which the conditional is used in Spanish.\u00a0 The connection among the conditional uses of verbs is that they don’t refer to events that definitely or necessarily have happened or are happening. In other words, the conditional tense refers to acts that can be seen as hypothetical, as we will see. For those wo speak english, it will be easy to apply it, because in most cases we can translate it as \u201cwould\u00a0 verb form\u201d. Let\u00b4s see some examples to clarify each use:<\/p>\n
1- Describing an act that depends on a condition:<\/p>\n
Si tuviese dinero, me ir\u00eda de compras.<\/em><\/strong> (If I had money, I would go shopping.)\u00a0 The condition to fulfill the action is having money.<\/p>\n 2- In <\/strong>a dependent clause following a main clause in the past tense: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Dijo que nos sentir\u00edamos mal tras tomar la medicina.<\/em><\/strong> (He said we would feel sick after taking our medicine).<\/p>\n 3 – To indicate future time within the past:<\/p>\n Dijiste el a\u00f1o pasado que ir\u00edamos de vacaciones este verano. <\/em><\/strong>( You told us last year that we were going on holiday next summer.)<\/p>\n 4 – \u00a0To indicate probability, speculation or conecture in past time, or a concrete situation:<\/p>\n \u00bfDonde estar\u00eda mi hermana ayer? <\/em><\/strong>Estar\u00eda en casa. <\/em><\/strong> (Where do yoy think my sister was last night? She was probably at home.)<\/p>\n \u00bfHablar\u00edas espa\u00f1ol en Irlanda? <\/em><\/strong>No, hablar\u00eda ingl\u00e9s.<\/em><\/strong> (Would you speak spanish in Ireland? No, I would speak English.<\/p>\n 5- To politely make requests, state desires or ask for advice:<\/p>\n Desear\u00eda un vaso de agua.<\/em><\/strong> (I would like a glass of water.)<\/p>\n \u00bfUsted cual elegir\u00eda en mi lugar?<\/em><\/strong> (Which one would you choose being me?)<\/p>\n We need to pay special attention to the Real vs. Unreal conditions.<\/p>\n A real condition<\/strong> is one which may actually come about or at least there is a possibility; in Spanish, the indicative is normally used both in the \u201cif\u201dclause and in the main part of the sentence:<\/p>\n Si nieva mucho, no ir\u00e9 a trabajar.<\/em><\/strong> (If it snows a lot, I won\u00b4t go to work.)<\/p>\n Si llegas tarde, te quedar\u00e1s sin cenar.<\/em><\/strong> (If you come home late, you\u00b4ll have no dinner.)<\/p>\n In contrast, an unreal or contrary-to-fact condition<\/strong> is one which will not come about or is viewed as being completely hypothetical. In this case, the \u201cif\u201d clause in normally in a past subjunctive tense, and the main verb is in a conditional tense.<\/p>\n Finally, let me show you one of the best examples I know about unreal conditions. This is a poem by Angel Gonzalez, a great example of what we have been talking today. Hope you enjoy it!<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \u201cif\u201d clause<\/span> <\/strong><\/td>\n main clause<\/span> <\/strong><\/td>\n time aspect<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n si<\/strong> + imperfect subjunctive<\/td>\n conditional<\/td>\n present\/future time actions (but expressed by the past tense in both English and Spanish)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Si hablaras,<\/strong><\/td>\n te creer\u00edan.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n If you spoke<\/span>,<\/em><\/td>\n they would believe<\/span> you.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n si<\/strong> + past perfect subjunctive<\/td>\n conditional perfect<\/td>\n past time actions (expresed by previous-past time tenses both in English and Spanish)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Si hubieras hablado,<\/strong><\/td>\n te habr\u00edan cre\u00eddo.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n If you had spoken<\/span>,<\/em><\/td>\n they would have believed<\/span> you.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n