Spanish 3    posted 24 April

  Sections 1 and 2:  Copy in notebook and study. Date your entry.

  3rd Use of the Imperfect Subjunctive

Contrary to Fact condition (in present time)

A condition contrary to fact is a most obvious case of unreality:

e.g. If he had a million dollars, he wouldn't be here.

[the reality, however, is he doesn't have the money since he's now here to tell us)

Exactly as in English, when a clause introduced by IF makes a supposition that is contrary to fact in present time, use the IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE  in the  IF (or subordinate)  clause, and Present Conditional in the Main clause.

e.g.    Si me ofreciera un millón de dólares, no lo aceptaría.

         (literally:  If he were to offer me a millon dollars, I would not accept it.)

                          (If clause)                                                   (Main clause)

                          If he offered me a million dollars, I wouldn't accept it.

Copy the following examples and translate:

1.Si lo supiera a tiempo, no lo haría.

2.Si hiciera buen tiempo, daríamos una vuelta en coche.

3.Si fuera rico, yp compraría esta casa algún día.

4.Si cupieran tantas personas en el autobús, iríamos todos juntos.

5.Me quedaría si no me costara nada.