The hypothetical period of unreality indicates a past hypothesis that could not be realized, and therefore the consequence also did not occur.
- The condition is not true and neither is the consequence.
The tenses used are:
| PROTASIS – condition (dependent clause) | APODOSIS – consequence (main sentence) | |
| Se | Past perfect subjunctive (congiuntivo trapassato) Imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto) Imperfect indicative (spoken language) (indicativo imperfetto) | Compound conditional (condizionale composto) Simple conditional (condizionale semplice) Imperfect indicative (spoken language) (indicativo imperfetto) |
1. Past perfect subjunctive > Compound conditional
The hypothesis and the consequence are placed in the past, and the conditions of the prosthesis are no longer achievable or are absurd (impossible).
- Se glielo avessi chiesto, ti avrebbe senz’altro aiutato (ma tu non glielo hai chiesto, così non ti ha aiutato)
- If you had asked him, he would definitely have helped you (but you didn’t ask him, so he didn’t help you)
- Se solo ne avessi avuto il tempo, ci sarei venuto! (ma non ce l’ho avuto, cosi non ci sono venuto)
- If only I had had the time, I would have come! (but I didn’t have it, so I didn’t come)
- Se non avessi trovato questo taxi, avrei perso il treno (ma l’ho trovato, così non l’ho perso)
- If I hadn’t found this taxi, I would have missed the train (but I found it, so I didn’t miss it)
2. Past perfect subjunctive > Simple conditional
The hypothesis, placed in the past, was unrealizable and the consequence has repercussions in the present.
- Se a suo tempo avessi studiato di più, ora ti sentiresti un po’ più tranquillo.
- If you had studied more at the time, you would feel a little calmer now.
- Se non avessimo sprecato tanti soldi, ora ci troveremmo molto meglio.
- If we hadn’t wasted so much money, we would be much better off now.
- Se tu non l’avessi trattata così male, ora non saresti solo.
- If you hadn’t treated her so badly, you wouldn’t be alone now.
3. Imperfect subjunctive > Compound conditional
The hypothesis is an unreal condition, valid in the past as in the present, and has given rise to that consequence in the past.
- Se fosse una persona seria, non si sarebbe comportato così con te.
- If he were a serious person, he wouldn’t have behaved like this towards you.
- Se davvero fosse ricco, non si sarebbe comprato una macchina di seconda mano.
- If he were really rich, he wouldn’t have bought a second-hand car.
- Se fossimo soddisfatti, non avremmo scioperato.
- If we were satisfied, we would not have gone on strike.
4. Imperfect indicative (spoken language) > Imperfect indicative (spoken language)
In spoken language, the imperfect indicative is used (both in the prosthesis and in the apodosis)
- Se lo sapevo, non ci venivo!
- If I knew, I wouldn’t have come!
- Se me lo dicevi, ti ci accompagnavo!
- If you told me, I would go with you!
- Se era una persona perbene, non si comportava in quel moda!
- If he was a decent person, he wouldn’t have behaved like that!
- Se glielo chiedevi, te la dava lui una mano!
- If you asked him, he would give you a hand!
Next lesson:
Altri modi per esprimere il periodo ipotetico / Other ways to express the hypothetical period