Conditionals

Open (Simple) Conditional

si/nisi + indicative in both clauses. States a straightforward condition with no implication about whether it is true.

Example: si hoc dīcis, errās. — If you say this, you are wrong.

Unfulfilled Conditional (Present)

si/nisi + imperfect subjunctive in both clauses. Contrary to present fact — something is not happening but the sentence imagines it were.

Example: si hoc dīcerēs, errārēs. — If you were saying this (but you are not), you would be wrong.

Unfulfilled Conditional (Past)

si/nisi + pluperfect subjunctive in both clauses. Contrary to past fact — something did not happen but the sentence imagines it had.

Example: si hoc dīxissēs, errāvissēs. — If you had said this (but you did not), you would have been wrong.

Worked Examples

1. si labōrās, discis. — If you work, you learn. (open conditional: present indicative in both clauses)
2. si plūs labōrārēs, plūs discerēs. — If you worked more (but you don't), you would learn more. (unfulfilled present: imperfect subjunctive in both clauses)
3. si mīlitēs fortius pugnāvissent, vīcissent. — If the soldiers had fought more bravely (but they didn't), they would have won. (unfulfilled past: pluperfect subjunctive in both clauses)
4. nisi advenissent, omnia perdita essent. — If they had not arrived, everything would have been lost. (nisi = if not; pluperfect subjunctive)

Types of Conditional

See Also

• Temporal / Causal / Concessive Clauses — other clause types using indicative and subjunctive
• Result Clauses — ut + subjunctive, distinct from conditionals
• Sequence of Tenses — general reference for subjunctive tense choice

Practice