Observations about the use of Spanish conditional clauses

El verbo inglés Guía de gramática

A 'conditional' means a phrase or sentence that has two clauses: 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 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 depicts an event which is 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' - cannot be not considered accurate English.

but should read:

'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 more 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).

but should read:

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.

This one is impossible to achieve because it refers to a past event:

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):

a) In some areas 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 nice, 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 incorrect 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 the past subjunctive in each clause. This is usually considered as acceptable Spanish though with the restriction to the aforementioned verbs.

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.

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