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 Imperfect subjunctive Imperfect indicative (spoken language) | Compound conditional Simple conditional Imperfect indicative (spoken language) |
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. Imperfect indicative (spoken language) > Imperfect indicative (spoken language)
In spoken language, the imperfect indicative is used (both in the prosthesis and in the apodosis) when 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 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!
3. 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.
4. 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.