Adnotationes
Documentum lviii - Conditions
I. Conditional Sentences
called, "if...then"; "if" part dependent, "then" part independent
si "if", si "if"...non "not", si "if"...nisi "not" used to introduce
6 kinds of conditionals:
a. simple present conditional - both clauses use the present tense
indicatives; no assumptions made
b. simple past conditional - both clauses use the perfect tense
indicatives; no assumptions made
c. future more vivid conditional - a future indicative or future
perfect indicative is used in the 'if' clause and a future indicative is
used in the "then" clause; action more likely to happen
d. future less vivid conditional - present subjunctive used in both
clauses; action less likely to happen; uses "should/would"
e. present contrary to fact conditional - imperfect subjunctive used
in both clauses; action in clauses does not actually happen; translates
"were/would'
f. past contrary to fact conditional - pluperfect subjunctive used in
both clauses; action in clauses does not actually happen; translates
"had/would have been"
|
Type of Conditional |
Tense of "if" clause/ Tense of "then" clause |
Translation |
|
Simple Present Conditional |
Present tense indicative/ Present tense indicative |
If (present indicative), then (present indicative) |
|
Simple Past Conditional |
Past tenses indicative/ Past tenses indicative |
If (imperfect, perfect, pluperfect indicative), then (imperfect, perfect, pluperfect indicative) |
|
Future More Vivid Conditional |
Future indicative or future perfect indicative/ Future indicative |
If "will" or "will have", then "will" |
|
Future Less Vivid Conditional |
Present subjunctive/ Present subjunctive |
If "should", then "would" |
|
Present Contrary to Fact Conditional |
Imperfect subjunctive/ Imperfect subjunctive |
If "were", then "would" |
|
Past Contrary to Fact Conditional |
Pluperfect subjunctive/ Pluperfect subjunctive |
If "had", then "would have been" |