Somewhat confused about the imperfect subjunctive...

Question

Ok, so I'm learning the imperfect subjunctive tense and it's a slight bit confusing

If there are two subjucts and the sentence has "si" in it, do you ALWAYS use the subjunctive tense? This is confusing...

Gracias!!

Answer 1

Here is a good summary to review. Just keep in mind that “unreal”/”contrary to fact” is not so black and white, and is often used for the merely unlikely/improbably or even sometimes just to mute something a bit.

http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/condic.htm

Real vs. unreal conditions

A. A real condition is one which may actually come about or at least is viewed as a possibility; thus, in Spanish, the indicative is normally used both in the “if”clause and in the main part of the sentence:

Si ella viene mañana,iremos al cine. If she comes tomorrow [she may actually come], wewill go to the movies.

Si nieva mucho, podréesquiar. If it snows a lot [it may really snow], I can ski.

B. Note that the English versions of the above conditions suggest the indicative by the lack of hypothesis-suggesting words such as “would”, and by not using the past tense to refer to a present-time situation.

C. In contrast, an unreal or contrary-to-fact condition is one which will not come about or is viewed as being completely hypothetical. In this case, the “if” clause in normally in a past subjunctive tense, and the main verb is in a conditional tense.

1. Present or future time situations. The imperfect subjunctive is used in the “if” clause, and the conditional in the main clause:

Si yo fuera rico compraría un coche. If I were rich [I am not rich] I would buy a car.

¿Qué harías si fueraspresidente? What would you do if you were president?[you aren't]

Si Juana estuviera aquí, ¿ledirías la verdad? If Juana were here [she isn't here], would you tell her the truth?

1. Past time situations. Past perfect subjunctive in the “if” clause, conditional perfect in the main clause:

Si la hubiera visto, habría dicho algo. If I had seen her [I didn't see her] I would have said something.

Si hubieras venido, te habrías divertido mucho. If you had come [you didn't come] you would have had a great time.

¿Habrías ido a la fiesta si yo la hubiera planeado? Would you have gone to the party if I had planned it? [I didn't plan it]

Ok...I think I understand. So is it that you use the subjunctive imperfect with si if there's little to no possibility of something happening/being done/etc.? And you only use it if there's a very, very good chance that it can't happen? - EllaSci4, Jul 29, 2014

You use it when you want to imply it is not reality- and use indicative when the message is that it is reality. - bosquederoble, Jul 29, 2014

If you were to go with me to the store I would drive. Subjunctive. If you go with me to the store I will drive. indicative. The first indicates more doubt that you will do so. - bosquederoble, Jul 29, 2014

But it doesn't mean you won't- it just changes feel of it a bit. - bosquederoble, Jul 29, 2014

OK Thank you!! - EllaSci4, Jul 31, 2014