Using The Imperfect As A Hypothetical.

Question

Are these sentences correct please

si yo cocinaba este sopa no había usado tanto sal. - If I was cooking this soup I would not have used so much salt.

si yo iba a la playa hoy, tomaría dos toallas. - If I was going to the beach today I would take two towels.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi, Roger. Julian gave you the correct answer.

Let me try to explain the general formula, so that you will know how it works the next time you want to use it.

When you have an "if...(then)..." sentence in the hypothetical past, you use "If + past subjunctive + (understood then) + conditional.

For example: "If they were here, (then) we would go." - "Si estuvieran aquí (entonces) iríamos." -- "If I knew the answer, I would tell you." - "Si yo supiera la respuesta, te la diría." -- "If they had the time, they would visit us." - "si tuvieran el tiempo, nos visitarían". Using the past perfect subjunctive: "If she had read the book, she would not have so many questions" - "Si hubiera leído el libro, no tendría tantas preguntas."

Of course, you can always reverse the clauses: "I would live here if I had more money." - "Viviría aquí si tuviera más dinero." -- "You would have bought it if you had seen it." - "Lo habrías comprado si lo hubieras visto."

I hope this has cleared it up for you.

oh heck it's hard. thanks. - Stig345, Apr 2, 2010

Answer 2

Si yo hubiera cocinado esta sopa, no habría usado tanta sal. - If I had cooked this soup, I would not have used so much salt.

Si me fuera a la playa el día de hoy, llevaría dos toallas. - If I were going to the beach today, I would take two towels.

If you use the subjunctive in English, rather past tense ("were" in place of "was"), it may be easier to figure out the Spanish counterpart.

Answer 3

I'm happy you asked this, because I would like to know too!

I think that you need to use the subjunctive imperfect:

si fuera a la playa hoy, tomaría dos toallas

llevaría? - torrontes75, Mar 28, 2010

Your first sentence though is 'had cooked' no? - torrontes75, Mar 28, 2010

yes, but you should view Julian's answer - Fidalgo, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 4

In the first case I would have put, ....Si yo había cocinado esta sopa, no habría usado tanto sal. ' If I had cooked this soup, I would not have used so much salt.'

I think the second item requires the imperfect subjunctive and the conditional.... Si yo fuera a la playa, tomaría (or llevaría) dos toallas' .....'If I were to go to the beach, I would take two towels.'