Si clauses with conditional
The si clause rule for conditional is: conditional + si + imperfect subjunctive or imperfect subjunctive + si + conditional. I want to translate this sentence into Spanish: What could the boy buy if his mother says, "Do not spend more than ten dollars"?
I think it is like this mostly because it sounds better: ¿Qué podría comprar el chico si su madre dice que, "No gastes más de diez dólares"?
But I think the rule tells me that I have to use dijera (imperfect subjunctive) instead of dice (present). What would you guys say and why?
5 Answers
If you want to use indicative, then both clauses must be indicative: ¿Qué puede comprar el chico si su madre le dice que, "No gastes más de diez dólares"?
In conditional: ¿Qué podría comprar el chico si su madre le dijera que, "No gastes más de diez dólares"?
Where do these "rules" come from?
Your sentence," What could the boy buy if his mother says, "Do not spend more than ten dollars." for the most part would be just like the English except for the command. "Do not spend more than ten dollars which would necessitate the subjunctive.
Without going into details covering your reasons for not doing what you did do, which is for the most part correct, here's the translation.
¿Qué podría comprar el chico si su madre le dijera ( if his mother were to say) (Eliminate the que--that introduces what is called "indirect address" let's keep it direct as is your English sentence) No gastes más de diez dólares. Again, without the comments.
Que podría comprar el chico si su madre le dijera, "No gastes más de diez dólares."
I can also make a case for no subjunctive in the in the first clause.
¿Qué podría comprar el chico si su madre le dice-....-- I can justify this by turning it around thusly:
Si su madre le dice, "No gastes más de diez dólares," qué podría comprar el muchacho.
I think that Daniela has answered properly this question, so I am not responding it again, but with the translation of the sentence I have come into a doubt.
As I see the English sentence , the Spanish translation would be this way:
What could the boy buy if his mother says, "Do not spend more than ten dollars"
Que podría comprar el chico si su madre dice: "No gastes más de diez dólares"
It is not always necessary to add the pronoun "him" into the English sentence "his mother says him", or the pronoun can be ignored in certain circustances?.
Como no estoy seguro de haberme hecho entender bien en inglés, repetiré mi pregunta en español.
¿ Es obligatorio poner siempre en inglés el pronombre que indica el objeto indirecto en frases como:" Ella le dice /She says him" o en ciertos casos se sobreentendería y sería correcto obviarlo?
Thanks. corrijan mi Inglés profa.
For Astotxua:
I changed it a little, but your English is quite understandable:
I think that Daniela has answered this question properly, so I am not responding to it again, but with the translation of the sentence I now have a doubt:
As I see the English sentence, the Spanish translation would be like this:
What could the boy buy if his mother says, "Do not spend more than ten dollars"
Que podría comprar el chico si su madre dice: "No gastes más de diez dólares"
Is it not always necessary to add the pronoun "him" to the English sentence "his mother says him", or can the pronoun be ignored in certain circumstances?.
Decir= say, tell
If the mother says, “Don’t…”, or If the mother says to him, “Don’t…”- either are okay.
“If the mother tells him, “Don’t…”- This must have the object.
Tells requires the object, says does not, you can add it but need “says to”, you do not need it if it is obvious who she says it to, or if she just says it with no particular audience indicated.
Keep in mind, I don’t study English, so I don’t know why but that is how it sounds right to me.
As far as conditional clauses are concerned these should help:
He explains things so well. He also mentions and links to further information, contrary to fact or unreal conditions where you use the subjunctive and real or very likely conditions where you use the present tense.
- This is a brilliant way of remembering the si + imperfect subjunctive
