Observations about the use of Spanish conditional clauses

Grammar Guide...

Reply to a reader's query

A 'conditional' just means a phrase or sentence that has two clauses (or clauses implied) being an 'if' clause (subordinate) and a main clause (the cause without 'if'). 'If I get up early, I'll get more work done'. But we can add loads of different auxiliaries and change the main clause about. 'If I get up early, I'm sure to get..., 'If I get up early, I may very well possibly... but they are ALL conditionals. (When I say 'conditional' here, I refer to a) a sentence as explained above or b) the conditional mode of the verb eg. 'would go' = 'iría'.)

The point to note about the Spanish conditional is that structurally it is similar to English so all the changes we can make in English to the main clause CAN be made in Spanish. The translations can usually be quite literal. My notes in the grammar guide on the conditional indicate this but to recap or clarify:

1, (First conditional) This sentence shows something very possible, probable: (Note there are no conditional auxiliaries here - do not mix present simple in the 'if' clause with conditional form 'ía' endings' (Just like in English 'If I go out tonight, I would have a couple of beers' - is not good English).

'If I go out tonight, I'll have (I'm going to have, may have, must have, etc. etc.) a couple of beers' -
'Si salgo esta noche, tomaré (voy a tomar, puede que tome, tengo que tomar etc. etc.) un par de cervezas.'
(Note: any imperative (orders, invitations or instructions) must be in this first conditional:
'If you go out tonight, have a couple of beers' -
'Si sales esta noche, toma un par de cervezas.')

2, (second conditional) This sentence is a bit hypothetical: (Again, do not mix the subjunctive 'compraras' in the 'if' clause with 'present' or 'future' or imperative verbs in the main clause. Like in English: 'If you bought now, it will cost you a lot less' - is confusing English).

If you bought it now, it would cost (it could cost, it should cost) you a lot less. -
Si compraras/comprases ahora, te costaría (te podría costar, te debería costar etc. etc.) mucho menos.

2b, This sentence is unlikely or even fanciful. (contrary to fact clause)

If I had wings, I would (could, etc.) fly. -
Si tuviera/tuviese alas, volaría (podría volar etc.)

3, (third conditional) And this one is impossible to achieve because it refers to the past:

If she had studied more, she would have passed her exams. -
Si hubiera/hubiese estudiado más, habría aprobado los exámenes.

The next thing to state here is that there are regional/country differences in the use of conditional. In Peninsula Spanish (Spain) (standard Spanish?!).

a) In some areas the you may hear the conditional mode of the verb instead of the subjunctive but IN THE 'IF' CLAUSE' not the main clause:-

'If he wasn't so friendly, he wouldn't have so many friends.' -
'Si no estaría (estuviera) tan amable, no tendría tantos amigos.' (so you get a conditional verb in each clause). (This structure may usually be thought of as bad Spanish by many.)

b) Another point is that the 'ra' form and NOT the 'se' form of the subjunctive can be used stylistically in formal Spanish. The trouble is, it is rare or very literary with verbs and auxiliaries other than 'haber', 'deber', 'querer', 'poder'. It is especially common with 'haber'.

It would have been terrible
Habría / hubiera sido terrible

c) The reason 'haber' is the most common auxiliary that uses the past subjunctive form in the main clause, is that 'haber' is necessary for the third conditional (3):

'If I had watched that programme, I would have known that'.-
'Si hubiera / hubiese visto este programa, habría / hubiera sabido eso' (so here, contrary to (a) we can have past subjunctive in each clause. (This is usually accepted as good Spanish though with the restriction to the aforementioned verbs.)

The examples you mention are not within my knowledge of standard Spanish.

My advice: If in doubt, stick to the structures I mention in 1, 2, 2b and 3,. In that way nobody should say you are using incorrect Spanish.