Three Conditionals
The Three Conditionals and the Beggar
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| 1. Let's say that I'm a person who likes to give money to beggars (mendigos). Let's say that after work one day, I leave my last class and start walking towards my car (en EE..UU. solemos decir "toward", sin "s"). As I am walking, I notice a beggar sitting on the pavement (acera - en EE.UU. decimos "sidewalk") and I think to myself: |
If I have a coin, I'll give it to the beggar.
(Si tengo una moneda, se la daré al mendigo.) This is the future conditional. Some books call it the "first" conditional. It's a condition of the future because I don't know yet if I have a coin or not.
If + present tense, future tense
(...I have) (I will give) |
| 2. As I continue walking towards the beggar, checking my pockets, I realize that I don't have a coin. When I finally reach him, I look at him and say: |
| If I had a coin, I would give it to you.
(Si tuviera una moneda, se la daría a usted.) This is the present conditional. Some books call it the "second" conditional. It's a condition of the present because it is happening right now. If I had a coin right now, I would give it to the beggar right now.
If + past tense, conditional tense
(...I had) (I would give) Nota: Tratándose del verbo "to be", siempre se usa "were" después de "if", no "was" (If I were rich...) |
| 3. Thirty minutes later, at home, I tell my wife: You know, half an hour ago I saw a beggar and I didn't have any coins. |
| If I had had a coin, I would have given it to him.
(Si hubiera tenido una moneda, se la habría dado) This is the past conditional. Some books call it the "third" conditional. If + past perfect tense, past conditional tense
(...I had had) (I would have given) |
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