Three tenses here...is the sentence grammatically correct?_

Question

Si hubieran más confiables banqueros no estaríamos en el lío en lo que estamos.

If there were more trustworthy bankers we would not be in the mess we are in.

Is there a better way to say "in the mess we are in"?

Answer 1

Just a couple of corrections. I think your choice of "Lio" is fine.

"Si hubieran más banqueros confiables, no estaríamos en el lío en lo que estamos."

Personally, because I hate these crooks, I would say, "Si no hubieran tantos banqueros rateros, ......................"

banqueros rateros...¡perfecto! - MattM, Jul 23, 2010

Isn't this missing a verb though? Doesn't that just say, "If there had ... more bankers" ?? - skygoneblue, Jul 23, 2010

Answer 2

Maybe I'm nit-picking, but I think you are trying to say, "If there had been", not "If there were". Were can be used for a conditional setup like this, but it's also usable for past tense, so it can be confusing. I think most translators would also take your phrase, "If there were" as past tense also, which would just be, "Si hubieron"...

So, in Spanish, I think you want to say, "Si hubiera habido mas banqueros confiables, no estariamos en este lio."

Hope this helps!

Yes , I agree if theer had been sounds better/more grammatically correct - FELIZ77, Jul 23, 2010

"were" and "had been" pretty close. Either way Imperfect and the "if" kicks of the subjunctive so I think the independent clause is O.K. - MattM, Jul 23, 2010

Answer 3

. . . we would not be in this mess.

Oh, never mind. You're looking for Spanish help! - 008f2974, Jul 23, 2010

Answer 4

Is there a better way to say "in the mess we are in"?

meterese en un lío

= to get into a mess

I'm not sure this really helps much... sorry

Never used meter so it definitely helps for "getting into". Thanks - MattM, Jul 23, 2010