If God helps me now, it will be the first time'.
Hola. I usually post in the Vocabulary and Grammar forum. I'm very much a beginner in Spanish. I write fiction for fun and come to SpanishDict for help. I want to say "If God helps me now, it will be the first time". I came up with this: "Si Dios me ayuda ahora, será la primera vez."
Corrections, please? Gracias. 
21 Answers
Si Dios me ayuda, esta será la primera vez.
Si dios me ayuda, esta sera la primera vez.
In English, it would be the first time *(because it is conditional) makes more sense that *it will be the first time because "If" (thereby expressing doubt) is at the beginning. So, it's not really the difficulty in translation it is the usage in English that isn't exactly reflecting what it should be.
I think that the majority of English speakers are not aware of the many tenses in English because we grow up knowing them and don't really have to learn them until we try to learn another language.
Would this be correct':
Si Dios me ayudara ahora, sería la primera vez
This is probably the best translation, even though the tenses are not an exact match.
Thanks. That explains my mistake (it's a long story so I won't bother)
I was surprised at your adding the r , Heitor, as you are a proficient speaker. The infinitive makes no sense at all.
Even though I don't consider myself a proficient speaker, I'm puzzled by my mistake. Reflecting on it later, I noticed I wouldn't do it with any other verb. I don't know what is going on in my head.
Would this be correct:
Si Dios me ayudara ahora, sería la primera vez
Would this be correct':
Si Dios me ayudara ahora, sería la primera vez
This is probably the best translation, even though the tenses are not an exact match.
God have mercy!
Now it's not a question of possibility or not, but degree of possibility.
It makes me understand why it is said that Spanish is more flexible (capable of more expression) than English.
I was looking at it as the main clause was saying God does not helped me and the if Clause was contradicting that by saying (if) God helps me. I think that they should change the name of this mood from subjunctive to subjective.
This is nothing more than a first conditional (in English; I don't know if the same terminology applies in Spanish). The idea of using the indicative because there is a greater degree of probability also exists in English.
Compare:
1) If I win the lottery, I'll buy a yacht
2) If I won the lottery, I would buy a yacht
The use of the indicative in the first sentence indicates that the event is more likely to occur (at least in the mind of the speaker).
I have found the Forum rules and printed a copy for myself. Thank you for your patience with me.
No need for that, Marcia, you are a well respected and appreciated member of this forum.
If you put the words or sentence in the title, this enables further searches. Thank you for cooperating.
God have mercy!
If God grants you mercy now, it will be the first time
That will teach you Quentin! jeje
I was surprised at your adding the r , Heitor, as you are a proficient speaker. The infinitive makes no sense at all.
Wow, I did not expect all this discussion, it's wonderful to read these opinions.
I am a little overwhelmed, however, by the details brought up here. It seems impossible that someone could learn to be fluent in a language as complex as this.
I have never been good with parts of speech, even in my native English. I know how to use words, just not what parts of speech they are. Is this explained anywhere on this site, or can someone suggest a source for me to study this issue more?
Heidita, I apologize for my blunder. I have found the Forum rules and printed a copy for myself. Thank you for your patience with me.
God have mercy!
If God grants you mercy now, it will be the first time
God have mercy!
If God grants you mercy now, it will be the first time
It is still a matter of declaration, but declaring things or not can result in many different pragmatical effects, one of them being expressing subjective degrees of possibility. But for the sake of simplicity, let's just say that "si" is on a league of its own, and it has to be learnt separately (what really happens is that the general rule is much easily applied to all other conjunctions).
The conjunction "si" is special in a way, and clauses using it require indicative when the condition is possible (since we are declaring a supposition), and subjunctive if it is impossible or extremely unlikely (we don't declare the supposition, because we don't believe it can take place).
God have mercy!
Now it's not a question of possibility or not, but degree of possibility.
It makes me understand why it is said that Spanish is more flexible (capable of more expression) than English.
I was looking at it as the main clause was saying God does not helped me and the if Clause was contradicting that by saying (if) God helps me. I think that they should change the name of this mood from subjunctive to subjective.
Heitor ,I am stunned, why have you added the r at the end of the verb?
Somehow having 'ayuda' in the present tense doesn't make sense to me. But if that is how you say it in Spanish, who am I to argue?
I would also argue that "if God helps me" doesn't make sense either, that it should be "if God were to help me". But again, I have no authority to argue.
All that got me thinking; I'm not sure how to say that even in Portuguese. I don't know if you're supposed to use the infinitive or the subjunctive. Why do languages have to be so complicated'
