CONDITIONAL SENTENCES - Contain a SI clause and a RESULT clause.
1. Si Juan [condenar] CONDENA la carta, las autoridades lo [fusilar –FUT] FUSILARÁN.
(Verb in SI clause is in the PRESENT INDICATIVE, verb in the RESULT CLAUSE is in the FUTURE tense.) This type of SI clause is called a POSSIBLE CONDITION.
2. Si el dentista no [sacar] SACARA la muela, el alcalde le [pegar – COND] PEGARÍA un tiro.
(Verb in SI clause is in the IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE, verb in the Result clause is in the CONDITIONAL tense.) This type of SI clause is called HYPOTHETICAL in the PRESENT.
3. Si el dentista no [sacar] HUBIERA SACADO la muela, el alcalde le [pegar – CONDPERF] HABRÍA PEGADO un tiro.
(Verb in SI clause is in the PLUPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE, verb in the Result clause is in the CONDITIONAL PERFECT tense.) This type of SI clause is called a possible condition.
4. Si [estudiar] HUBIERAS ESTUDIADO más, hoy [tener] TENDRÍA un alto puesto en
esta compañía.
(Verb in SI clause is in the PLUPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE, verb in the Result clause is in the CONDITIONAL tense.) This is because the action in the result clause is brought up to the present.
Numbers 5, 6 & 7 are not CONDITIONAL SENTENCES. Their construction is different. Note the use of tenses.
5. Si nosotros [dormirse] NOS DORMIMOS en la (Habitual – Presente)
clase, el profesor [enojarse - PRES] SE ENOJA.
This is what is known as a HABITUAL SITUATION, in this case in the present. The sentence translates:
If we fall asleep in class, the professor gets angry.
Note both verbs are in the PRESENT TENSE.
6. Si nosotros [llegar] LLEGÁBAMOS tarde, el (Habitual – PASADO – Use IMPERFECT – on going action)) profesor [enojarse – PASADO] SE ENOJABA.
Same as #5 above but now in the past.
Note both verbs are in the IMPERFECT TENSE.
In # 7, "IF" means "WHETHER"
7. ¿Sabes si Juan [encontrar – PASADO] ENCONTRÓ la carta?
(SI meaning WHETHER – NOTE: NO CONDICIONAL SO SUBJUNCTIVE CANNOT BE USED.)
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