The conditional tense in Portuguese if-clauses (orações condicionais) is used to express hypothetical situations and their potential outcomes. Understanding its usage is crucial for effective communication in Portuguese.
Types of Conditional Sentences
- Real Conditional (Presente do Indicativo)
- Used for likely or possible situations
- Structure: Se + presente do indicativo, futuro do presente
- Example: Se chover, ficarei em casa. (If it rains, I will stay at home.)
- Unreal Conditional Present (Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo)
- Used for unlikely or impossible situations in the present
- Structure: Se + pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo, condicional simples
- Example: Se eu tivesse dinheiro, viajaria para a Europa. (If I had money, I would travel to Europe.)
- Unreal Conditional Past (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito do Subjuntivo)
- Used for impossible situations in the past
- Structure: Se + pretérito mais-que-perfeito do subjuntivo, condicional composto
- Example: Se eu tivesse estudado mais, teria passado no exame. (If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.)
Key Points
- The verb in the if-clause (after “se”) is always in the subjunctive mood for unreal conditionals.
- The main clause uses the conditional tense (condicional) to express the hypothetical result.
- In spoken Portuguese, it’s common to use the imperfect indicative instead of the conditional in the main clause.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t use the future tense in the if-clause.
- Incorrect: Se eu terei dinheiro, viajarei.
- Correct: Se eu tiver dinheiro, viajarei.
- Don’t use the conditional in both clauses.
- Incorrect: Se eu seria rico, compraria um carro.
- Correct: Se eu fosse rico, compraria um carro.
- Pay attention to verb agreement in complex sentences.
- Example: Se eles tivessem chegado mais cedo, teríamos jantado juntos.
By mastering these conditional structures, learners can express complex ideas and hypothetical scenarios more effectively in Portuguese.
Next: Conditional Perfect