Simple Conditions (indicative in the si clause)
Simple conditions with both verbs in the indicative give simple cause and effect.
If one thing happens, the other always happens. Other types will follow
and will be discussed later.
si amicus hoc legit, multa discit, "if my friend is
reading this, he is learning many things".
si hoc dicis erras, "if you say this, you are
wrong". (present time)
si hoc fecisti, stultus eras, "if you did this you,
you were foolish." (past time)
si fabulam audire cupis, tace et me audi, "if you want
to hear the story, be quiet and listen to me". The action
of being quiet and listening takes place only if you want to hear
the story.
Potential Conditions (present or perfect subjunctive
in the si clause)
Potential conditions express hypothetical situations. In this
type of condition, the verb in the conditional clause will be in the
present or perfect subjunctive. The governing verb will often also
be in the same tense of the subjunctive. If one thing
happens, then the other may happen. These are often called
"should-would" conditions.
si amicus hoc legat, multa discat, "if my friend should
read this, he would learn many things". There is
only a possiblity of the reading, so the action of the main verb,
"learn", is only contingent upon another uncertainty: "if
my friend should read this (but I am uncertain if he will), then
he would learn many things".
si domum reveneris, omnia tibi narrabo, "if you come
back home, I will tell you everything". perfect
subjunctive in the si clause, future indicative in the main clause to
express a condition that is probable (if the si condition is met).
This is sometimes called a Future More Vivid condition.
si domum revenias, omnia tibi narrem, "if you should return
home, I would tell you everything". Present subjunctive in
the si clause, present subjunctive in the main clause. This makes
the condition more improbable. This is sometimes called a Future
Less Vivid condition.
Contrary-to-Fact Conditions (imperfect or pluperfect
subjunctive in the si clause)
Contrary-to-fact conditions
imply the impossibility of the condition. Because the conditional
has already taken place in the past, then the tense used is always the
perfect of pluperfect. In this type of condition, the verb in the
conditional clause will be in the imperfect or pluperfect
subjunctive. The governing verb will often also be in the same tense
of the subjunctive. If one thing had happened (but it did),
then the other would have happened happen (but it didn't).
The use of the imperfect subjunctive in the si clause
indicates that the condition is still in effect now.
si amicus hoc legeret, multa disceret, "if my friend
were reading this, he would be learning many
things". The act of reading is not taking place. The
condition expresses what would be happening now (at the time of the
action described in the narrative of the passage) if he was in fact
performing the reading. Thus, the action of the main verb,
"learn", is not taking place as it is contingent upon another
action that is not taking place: "if my friend were (right
now) reading this (but he isn't), then he would be learning many
things (but he isn't)".
si hoc fecisses, stultus fuisses, "if you had done
this, you would have been foolish"
si prudens esses, hoc non faceres, "if you were wise,
you would not be doing this".
The use of the pluperfect subjunctive in the si clause
indicates that the condition was in effect before the time of
speaking.
si amicus hoc legisset, multa didicisset, "if my
friend had read this, he would have learn many
things". The act of reading did not take place. The
condition expresses what would have happened if he had in fact performed
the reading. Thus, the action of the main verb, "learn",
can not take place as it is contingent upon another action that did not
take place: "if my friend had read this (but he didn't),
then he would have learn many things (but he didn't)".
