If I had known...then I would have.....??

Question

I'm still confused on the spanish conjugation for sentences like "if the prices had dropped, I would have bought a ticket" or "if I knew you were coming, I would have gone with the group" or "if i was a millionare, I would be..." etc.

si los precios hubieran bajados, or is it habian bajados?...yo iba a comprar un ticket or yo hubiera comprado un ticket o habria comprado un ticket or none of the above?? I get confused between habia, hubiera, and imperfect for these type of sentences. help meeee!!!

We used to run a game on this one, it was most useful for practising. - annierats, Oct 19, 2013

Answer 1

My suggestions, as ever, uncertain, please note, I'm only another learner: Sí los precios hubieran bajado, me habría comprado un billete. ( This didn't happen, hypothetical situation).

Si fuera rica, me compraría una casa más grande. ( I f I were rich I would buy a bigger house) Similar, unlikely hypothesis.

Ojalá supiera que usted viniera, me habría ido con el grupo . ( If only I had known you were coming, I would have gone with the group) - I'm not so sure about this one.

THank you annierats!! I like your examples, i think i have a better idea on how to conjugate the secod halves of these sentences so habria, compraria, podria, etc. thanks for all the help!! - lagringita, Oct 19, 2013

Neither "crupled" nor cumpled :) and well stated. You're great, annie (a temporary change - in my mind - of your avatar to Tony the Tiger - grrrrreat!) - Jubilado, Oct 19, 2013

Answer 2

If...had...would have is Imperfect Subjunctive for the first and Past Perfect Indicative for the second. In first example Si los precios bajaran había comprado

If...(some contrary to fact existence)...would is Present Subjunctive for the first and Conditional Indicative for the second. Si yo esté fuera rico ayudaría más a los pobres If I were rich I would help the poor more.

yes, more or less. - annierats, Oct 19, 2013

Si fuera rica is better, I think. - annierats, Oct 19, 2013

Annie, thanks and if you have the time please provide a more detailed answer or a link, I would like to review it too. - Jubilado, Oct 19, 2013

I've tried my best Jubilado, I don't do links, I have many crupled notes and a lot of fog in the brain.. - annierats, Oct 19, 2013

Crumpled, I mean. - annierats, Oct 19, 2013

Thank you, Jubilado! I didn't realize the second half is called past perfect indicative, now i can find the conjugations more easily with the name of the tense! yay! - lagringita, Oct 19, 2013