Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface and acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- 1 Varieties of language
- WORDS AND THEIR MEANINGS
- THE CLAUSE – combining words
- THE SENTENCE – combining clauses
- 25 Italian prepositions
- 26 English prepositions
- 27 Prepositional constructions with verbs and adjectives
- 28 Use of tenses
- 29 Sequence of tenses
- 30 The Subjunctive
- 31 Conditional sentences
- 32 Subordinate clauses
- TEXTS AND THEIR STRUCTURE
- Bibliography
- Italian word index
- Grammar index
31 - Conditional sentences
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface and acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- 1 Varieties of language
- WORDS AND THEIR MEANINGS
- THE CLAUSE – combining words
- THE SENTENCE – combining clauses
- 25 Italian prepositions
- 26 English prepositions
- 27 Prepositional constructions with verbs and adjectives
- 28 Use of tenses
- 29 Sequence of tenses
- 30 The Subjunctive
- 31 Conditional sentences
- 32 Subordinate clauses
- TEXTS AND THEIR STRUCTURE
- Bibliography
- Italian word index
- Grammar index
Summary
Conditional sentences consist basically of an if-clause (or “protasis”) and a main clause (or “apodosis”), although many variations are possible. It is more common for the if-clause to come first, as in the examples below, but in principle the two clauses may occur in either order. Conditional sentences can be divided into hypothetical conditionals and factual conditionals.
Hypothetical conditionals
These sentences express a hypothesis, consisting of a condition and a consequence resulting from the fulfillment of that condition: “if x, then y.” The choice of mood and tense of the verbs in the two clauses reflects the degree of probability the speaker attaches to the likelihood that the hypothesis may come true. The indicative emphasizes that the hypothesis is in fact possible, while the subjunctive and conditional highlights the speculative or unreal nature of the hypothesis.
Verb mood and tense
Indicative in both clauses
The present, future, and passato prossimo may be used to express a hypothesis about present, future or past, e.g.:
Se compri il giornale, possiamo vedere cosa c'è alla televisione.
If you buy the newspaper, we can see what's on TV.
R1* vulgar or indecent
R1 informal, colloquial
R2 neutral, unmarked
R3 formal, written Italian words and expressions are R2 unless otherwise indicated. See also p. 5.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Using ItalianA Guide to Contemporary Usage, pp. 416 - 420Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004