Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search PenpalsTranslator


Probable, improbable and impossible forms? Help!

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old July 29, 2013, 04:28 PM
ayúdame ayúdame is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 23
ayúdame is on a distinguished road
Probable, improbable and impossible forms? Help!

I know I'm going to explain this entirely wrong, but bear with me: I already know that to form a sentence in the "improbable" form we need to use the imperfect subjective as the first verb and the conditional as the second.

I also know that with the "impossible" form we need to use the past perfect subjunctive for the first verb and the conditional perfect for the second...

But what about the probable? What's the formula for that one? Any help would be appreciated!

Last edited by ayúdame; July 29, 2013 at 06:07 PM.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old July 29, 2013, 05:43 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,047
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Can you post any example sentences of the cases you have in mind?
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old July 29, 2013, 06:06 PM
ayúdame ayúdame is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 23
ayúdame is on a distinguished road
Not sure how to do one in the "probable" form (since I don't know the formula) but here's an example of one that would be in the "impossible" form I think...

Si hubiera estudiado, habría hecho bien.

See how the first verb is in the past perf. subjunctive and the second's in the conditional? That's what I'm trying to do, except with the "probable" formula...

Nevermind! I figured it out. The formula's present indicative + future indicative. So, for instance...

Si tengo el dinero iré a Chile.

Got it.

Last edited by AngelicaDeAlquezar; July 29, 2013 at 06:28 PM. Reason: Merged back-to-back posts
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old July 30, 2013, 05:51 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,047
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
There are three conditional forms with "si":

1) Si + present indicative, (then) verb in indicative (present, future, imperative).
[I suppose this is what you call "real".]

- Si me gano la lotería, compro/compraré/voy a comprar una casa.
- Si no llegas a tiempo, me iré/me voy/ me voy a ir.
- Si no te molesta, voy a fumar.
- Si vienes a México, visítame.
- Si no quieres, no te comas la sopa.


1b) Si + imperfect, (then) imperfect.

- Cuando era adolescente, si no estaba con mis amigos, me sentía muy solo.
- En mi niñez, si no me llevaban al cine, me enojaba mucho.
- Antes de que mi hermano se fuera, si llovía, salíamos a jugar en charcos.



2) Si + Imperfect subjunctive, (then) conditional.
[I suppose this is what you call "improbable"]

- Si conocieras a mi novia, no hablarías mal de ella.
- Si no fueras mi hermano, te mataría.
- Si pudiera viajar muy lejos, iría a La Patagonia.



3) Si + pluperfect subjunctive, (then) perfect conditional / pluperfect subjunctive.
[And I guess this is what you called "impossible"]

- Si no te hubiera conocido, mi vida habría sido/ hubiera sido más feliz.
- Si hubiera ido a trabajar, me habría muerto / me hubiera muerto en la explosión.
- Si hubiera puesto la carne en el refrigerador, el perro no se la habría comido / hubiera comido.



Special case --reported speech: Si + imperfect, (then) conditional:

- El profesor dijo que si no entregábamos la tarea a tiempo, no la recibiría.
- María creía que si Juan no se casaba con ella, nunca dejaría de ser soltera.
- Sabíamos que si comíamos mucho, nos enfermaríamos.
- Sus padres les enseñaron que si estudiaban mucho, aprenderían más.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Spanish is easy, English impossible Perikles Practice & Homework 15 May 31, 2013 06:32 PM
The impossible spanish learner PoquitaChapina Teaching and Learning Techniques 9 March 27, 2012 11:03 AM
What are all the present forms? espancreol Grammar 12 September 24, 2010 08:39 AM
-ly forms irmamar Grammar 29 August 02, 2010 02:13 AM
To + -ing forms irmamar Grammar 36 May 26, 2009 02:15 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:44 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X