If God helps me now, it will be the first time'.

Question

Hola. I usually post in the Vocabulary and Grammar forum. I'm very much a beginner in Spanish. I write fiction for fun and come to SpanishDict for help. I want to say "If God helps me now, it will be the first time". I came up with this: "Si Dios me ayuda ahora, será la primera vez."
Corrections, please? Gracias.

Answer 1

Until Lazarus shows up, I can offer this:

Si Dios me ayudar ahora, será la primera vez

or

Si Dios me ayudar ahora, va a ser la primera vez

Answer 2

Marcia, this is not the first time I have to correct your title. Please check the rules of the forum.

Forum Rules

Answer 3

Until Lazarus shows up, I can offer this:

Si Dios me ayuda[del]r[/del] ahora, será la primera vez

or

Si Dios me ayuda[del]r[/del] ahora, va a ser la primera vez
Heitor ,I am stunned, why have you added the r at the end of the verb?

Marcia, Your sentence is correct.

Answer 4

Hola. I usually post in the Vocabulary and Grammar forum. I'm very much a beginner in Spanish. I write fiction for fun and come to SpanishDict for help. I want to say "If God helps me now, it will be the first time". I came up with this: "Si Dios me ayud[color=red]a ahora, será la primera vez."

Corrections, please? Gracias. [/color]

Does the main clause make the use of ahora unnecessary in the subordinate if clause?

If God helps me, it will be the first time.
(the main clause tells us that He has not helped you previous to now.)

Since the main clause is in the future we can't declare anything so we would have had used the subjunctive mood in the if clause. I like Heitor's thinking. Use the infinitive and avoid the issue. Excellent.)

Heidita, isn't this one of the contrary-to-fact concepts'

Answer 5

I would say "sería la primera vez", because, I would imagine, that there is doubt being expressed as if you were trying to say that "it *would be *the first time". But, that is merely my preference.

Answer 6

Si Dios me ayudar ahora, será la primera vez

or

Si Dios me ayudar ahora, va a ser la primera vez

"Me ayudar"''? Surely you've made a mistake typing, right? You cannot use an infinitive in a main clause like that.

Marcia's original sentence is perfect, including the orthography (although there could be other alternatives).

The conjunction "si" is special in a way, and clauses using it require indicative when the condition is possible (since we are declaring a supposition), and subjunctive if it is impossible or extremely unlikely (we don't declare the supposition, because we don't believe it can take place).

Answer 7

Heitor ,I am stunned, why have you added the r at the end of the verb?

Somehow having 'ayuda' in the present tense doesn't make sense to me. But if that is how you say it in Spanish, who am I to argue?

I would also argue that "if God helps me" doesn't make sense either, that it should be "if God were to help me". But again, I have no authority to argue.

All that got me thinking; I'm not sure how to say that even in Portuguese. I don't know if you're supposed to use the infinitive or the subjunctive. Why do languages have to be so complicated'

Answer 8

The conjunction "si" is special in a way, and clauses using it require indicative when the condition is possible (since we are declaring a supposition), and subjunctive if it is impossible or extremely unlikely (we don't declare the supposition, because we don't believe it can take place).

God have mercy!

Now it's not a question of possibility or not, but degree of possibility.
It makes me understand why it is said that Spanish is more flexible (capable of more expression) than English.

I was looking at it as the main clause was saying God does not helped me and the if Clause was contradicting that by saying (if) God helps me. I think that they should change the name of this mood from subjunctive to subjective.

Answer 9

It is still a matter of declaration, but declaring things or not can result in many different pragmatical effects, one of them being expressing subjective degrees of possibility. But for the sake of simplicity, let's just say that "si" is on a league of its own, and it has to be learnt separately (what really happens is that the general rule is much easily applied to all other conjunctions).

Answer 10

God have mercy!

If God grants you mercy now, it will be the first time

Answer 11

God have mercy!

If God grants you mercy now, it will be the first time

Answer 12

Wow, I did not expect all this discussion, it's wonderful to read these opinions.
I am a little overwhelmed, however, by the details brought up here. It seems impossible that someone could learn to be fluent in a language as complex as this.
I have never been good with parts of speech, even in my native English. I know how to use words, just not what parts of speech they are. Is this explained anywhere on this site, or can someone suggest a source for me to study this issue more?
Heidita, I apologize for my blunder. I have found the Forum rules and printed a copy for myself. Thank you for your patience with me.

Answer 13

God have mercy!

If God grants you mercy now, it will be the first time

That will teach you Quentin! jeje

I was surprised at your adding the r , Heitor, as you are a proficient speaker. The infinitive makes no sense at all.

Answer 14

I have found the Forum rules and printed a copy for myself. Thank you for your patience with me. [/color]
No need for that, Marcia, you are a well respected and appreciated member of this forum.

If you put the words or sentence in the title, this enables further searches. Thank you for cooperating.

Answer 15

God have mercy!

Now it's not a question of possibility or not, but degree of possibility.

It makes me understand why it is said that Spanish is more flexible (capable of more expression) than English.

I was looking at it as the main clause was saying God does not helped me and the if Clause was contradicting that by saying (if) God helps me. I think that they should change the name of this mood from subjunctive to subjective.

This is nothing more than a first conditional (in English; I don't know if the same terminology applies in Spanish). The idea of using the indicative because there is a greater degree of probability also exists in English.

Compare:
1) If I win the lottery, I'll buy a yacht
2) If I won the lottery, I would buy a yacht

The use of the indicative in the first sentence indicates that the event is more likely to occur (at least in the mind of the speaker).