"Le agradecería mucho si me puede informar..." or "Le agradecería mucho si me pudiese informar..."

Question

Should the verb "poder" be in 'presente indicativo' or 'pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo'? Thank you.

Answer 1

Quentin boldly stated:

Your first sentence is incorrect. The verb in the if clause is present tense (indicative), so the verb in the main clause must be future tense.

I'm not so sure about that. The conditional is often used as a "modesty" or "courtesy"-softener of the present tense. And the present tense is totally acceptable in the apodosis here, not only the future.

In that case then would you still use the subjunctive with "poder" ? - Cachai, SEP 15, 2009

Answer 2

Le agradecería mucho si me puede informar..." or "Le agradecería mucho si me pudiese informar..."

Your first sentence is incorrect. The verb in the if clause is present tense (indicative), so the verb in the main clause must be future tense.

I will appreciate it a lot if you can inform me...

If the verb in the if clause is in the past you use the conditional in the main clause.

Clipped from online.

"If" clauses

Directions: Give the correct forms of the verbs. Remember the patterns:
a. Si + PAST SUBJUNCTIVE, CONDITIONAL.

   Si fuera rico, viviría en Barcelona.

b. Si + PRESENT INDICATIVE, FUTURE.

  Si hace sol mañana, iremos a la playa.

c. Como si + PAST SUBJUNCTIVE.

   Don Quijote hablaba como si estuviera loco. 

Answer 3

I'm not so sure about that. The conditional is often used as a "modesty" or "courtesy"-softener of the present tense. And the present tense is totally acceptable in the apodosis here, not only the future.

Yes sire bob, perfectly correct.

quentin, while in English it would be unacceptable (grammatically speaking) to say:

I would be very grateful if you give me the pen.

in Spanish we do so all the time.

So Heidita, does this mean that both the present tense and the subjunctive can be used in this case? - Milena, SEP 16, 2009

Answer 4

Subjunctive. The second is correct. "Le agradecería mucho si me pudiese informar..."

Because of the uncertainty that you will be able or permitted to do it.

I might add that in formal English this could be stated in the subjunctive as well:

"I would appreciate it if I were permitted to inform you . . . ."