Conditionals with two verb phrases in the subjunctive clause

Question

A common construction is:

Si (imperfect subjunctive), (conditional).

My question is what to do when the contrary to fact part has two disjoint verbs--are they both in the imperfect subjunctive?

If you spent so much time on the internet that you didn't ever exercise, you could lose years of your life.
Si pasara tanto tiempo por el internet que no haga ejercicio nunca, perdería años de su vida.

Answer 1

My question is what to do when the contrary to fact part has two disjoint verbs--are they both in the imperfect subjunctive?

The protasis (the "if" part of the sentence) will require the imperfect subjunctive, and the apodosis (the consequence) requires conditional.

Si pasara tanto tiempo por el internet que no haga ejercicio nunca, perdería años de su vida.

Correction: "hiciera".

Note: for hypothetical past situations, you use the pluperfect subjunctive (maybe you call it past preterite subjunctive, or something else) in the "if" condition, and the conditional perfect in the apodosis, although in this particular instance, the pluperfect subjunctive can replace the conditional perfect:

Si hubieras venido te habrías divertido (also correct: hubieras divertido)

Thanks! - lorenzo9, Jan 17, 2011

Answer 2

So is it the same for two verb phrases in the apodosis, both are in the condicional?

If your car were stolen, you might walk so much that you would lose weight.
Si su carro fuera robado, caminaría tanto que perdería peso.

Correct, except it should be "peso," unless you were to be robbed each time you were walking - 005faa61, Jan 17, 2011

Thanks :) - lorenzo9, Jan 17, 2011

Answer 3

It is more natural to say "Se le robaran el carro,..."

Shouldn't it be "Si le robaran el carro,...." Because I am getting lost...

Answer 4

So is it the same for two verb phrases in the apodosis, both are in the condicional? If your car were stolen, you might walk so much that you would lose weight. Si su carro fuera robado, caminaría tanto que perdería peso.

Good questions! I think it's a matter of what you structure you're actually putting into the protasis or apodosis, though.

If in the last example you had said "no caminaría", the whole sentence would become: Si su carro fuera robado, no caminaría tanto que perdiera peso.

In this case we'd probably opt for "Aunque" or something, but that's not important.

Aunque instead of si? - lorenzo9, Jan 17, 2011

Yes - Vikingo, Jan 17, 2011

Answer 5

So is it the same for two verb phrases in the apodosis, both are in the condicional?

If your car were stolen, you might walk so much that you would lose weight. Si su carro fuera robado, caminaría tanto que perdería peso.

No, at least one of them must be in subjunctive (like in your sentence quoted here): "fuera robado" is not conditional, but subjunctive.

It is more natural to say "Se le robaran el carro,..."