1. CONDITIONAL
SENTENCES
If you should learn these, you would be
wise. 

2. What it is…
 A conditional sentence expresses a hypothetical
situation:
 If you take Latin, you are awesome.
 If you were taking Latin, you would be awesome
 If you will take Latin, you will be awesome
 Notice that in each of these, the sentence is made
up of two bits:
 The conditional, “if,” bit, called the protasis.
 Introduced usually by “si,” if, or “nisi,” if not/unless
 The main clause, or conclusion, called the “apodosis.”

3. But not all situations are equally
hypothetical…
 If you are taking notes (and you very likely
are), you are one of Mrs. J’s favorite students.
 This type of conditional is called the SIMPLE
FACT PRESENT.
 The fact that this is likely makes it less
hypothetical, so the Romans used the
INDICATIVE (normal) mood.
 Si Latinam discis, mirabilis es. Verb in main clause
Condition type Verb in conditional
clause (protasis) (apodosis)
Simple fact—present Present indicative Present indicative

4. Another type of simple conditional
sentence
 Simple fact—past.
 Both verbs are in a past tense, (the imperfect
or perfect tenses) and the indicative mood.
 If you said that (and you likely did), you were
right.
 Si dixisti, rectus fuisti.
Condition type Verb in conditional Verb in main clause
clause (protasis) (apodosis)
Simple fact—present Present indicative Present indicative
Simple fact—past Imperfect/perfect indic Imperfect/perfect indic

5. One last simple type
 Simple fact—future (or the “future more vivid”)
 If
you study [will study] (and many of you likely
will), you will be prepared for the exam.
Condition type Verb in conditional Verb in main clause
clause (protasis) (apodosis)
Simple fact—present Present indicative Present indicative
Simple fact—past Imperf/perfect Imperf/perfect indicative
indicative
Simple fact—future Present/future Future indicative
indicative

6. But what’s the point of living without
the subjunctive? Hypothetical
conditions
 Contrary to fact—present
 If I were studying (but I’m not…I’m watching Pacifica
for the 15th time…) I would be good.
 If you were singing, you would be happy.
 These use an IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE in both
clauses.
Condition type Impf subjunctive = infinitive form + personal
 NOTE: Verb in conditional Verb in main clause
endings clause (protasis) (apodosis)
Simple fact—present Present indicative Present indicative
Simple fact—past Imperf/perfect Imperf/perfect indicative
indicative
Simple fact—future Present/future Future indicative
indicative
Contrary to fact—present Impf subjunctive Impf subjunctive

7. Latin examples
 Si hoc diceres, esses.
 If
you WERE SAYING this (but you’re not), you
WOULD BE right.
 Si linguam Hispanicam disceres, tristis esses.
 If
you WERE LEARNING Spanish (but you’re
not), you WOULD BE sad.
 Notice the translation:
If… were, …would be.

8. What about the past?
 If I had said it in Latin, I would have been
awesome.
 si id linguā Latinā dixissem, mirabilis fuissem.
 Now we use the PLUPERFECT
SUBJUNCTIVE in in conditional Verb in main clause
Condition type Verb
both.
clause (protasis) (apodosis)
Simple fact—present Present indicative Present indicative
Simple fact—past Imperf/perfect Imperf/perfect indicative
indicative
Simple fact—future Present/future Future indicative
indicative
Contrary to fact—present Impf subjunctive Impf subjunctive
Contrary to fact—past Plupf subjunctive Plupf subjunctive

9. And one more…
 Future less vivid (or the “should/would”)
 If you should do this (and maybe you will, maybe you
won’t), you would be happy.
 Uses the present subjunctive in both clauses
 Si hoc facias, laetus sis.
Condition type Verb in conditional Verb in main clause
clause (protasis) (apodosis)
Simple fact—present Present indicative Present indicative
Simple fact—past Imperf/perfect Imperf/perfect indicative
indicative
Simple fact—future Present/future Future indicative
indicative
Contrary to fact—present Impf subjunctive Impf subjunctive
Contrary to fact—past Plupf subjunctive Plupf subjunctive

10. Strategies to help you
remember…
 Recognize the patterns for subjunctives:
 Present subjunctive =
 We beat fat friars
 Imperfect subjunctive =
 Infinitive form + personal endings
 Pluperfect subjunctive =
 3rd part + isse + personal ending
 Itseems odd that the Contrary to Fact—Present
uses imperfect? Think about how we say it in
English:
 If I were on vacation right now (but I’m not, I’m here
teaching Latin), I would be swimming and getting a
tan.