What are “if Clauses”?
“If clauses”, called in Italian periodo ipotetico, are sentences that express scenarios where the outcome depends on the condition specified by se (if).
In Italian, there are three different types of if-clauses:
- Type 1 – reality
Se mi inviti al tu0 compleanno, vengo con piacere.
If you invite me to your birthday, I’ll be happy to come.
- Type 2 – possibility
Se fossi meno stanco, uscirei con voi.
If I were less tired, I would go out with you.
- Type 3 – impossibility
Se fossi stato chiaro, avrei capito meglio.
If you had been clear, I would have understood better.
In this article, I will discuss the second type only.
Italian “if Clause” – Type 2
Use
As I mentioned before, the Italian periodo ipotetico type 2 is the one about possibility. Here are some examples:
Se avessi tanti soldi, andrei dappertutto.
If I had money, I would go everywhere.
Se veniste con noi, vi divertireste.
If you came with us, you would have fun.
We use this type of if-clause to express possible hypotheses, something that could – or could not – happen in the future. It is the type of possibility because there are chances that something would happen in the future if a certain condition is met.
Structure
To use this expression, we use the congiuntivo imperfetto (imperfect subjunctive) in the depending clause introduced by se, namely the one that expresses the condition we need in order for something to occur.
We use the condizionale presente (present conditional) in the main clause, namely the one that expresses what would happen if a certain condition were met.
Therefore, the structure is: se + imperfect subjunctive + present conditional.
Se potessi, verrei a trovarti.
If I could, I would come to see you.
However, the order is not fixed, which means that you can also use the following: present conditional + se + imperfect subjunctive
Verrei a trovarti, se potessi.
I would come to see you, if I could.
How to Conjugate the Verbs
Imperfect Subjunctive
If you do not remember how to conjugate the imperfect subjunctive, let me give you a brief recap:
| parlare | credere | partire | |
| io | parlassi | credessi | partissi |
| tu | parlassi | credessi | partissi |
| lui/lei | parlasse | credesse | partisse |
| noi | parlassimo | credessimo | partissimo |
| voi | parlaste | credeste | partiste |
| loro | parlassero | vedessero | partissero |
Here’s the conjugation of the most common irregular verbs:
| dare | dire | fare | |
| io | dessi | dicessi | facessi |
| tu | dessi | dicessi | facessi |
| lui/lei | dessi | dicesse | facesse |
| noi | dessimo | dicessimo | facessimo |
| voi | deste | diceste | faceste |
| loro | dessero | dicessero | facessero |
And last, but not least, the irregular conjugations of essere and stare:
| io fossi | io stessi |
| tu fossi | tu stessi |
| lui/lei fosse | lui/lei stesse |
| noi fossimo | noi stessimo |
| voi foste | voi steste |
| loro fossero | loro stessero |
Present Conditional
If you do not remember how to conjugate the present conditional, let me give you a brief recap:
| parlare | credere | partire | |
| io | parlerei | crederei | partirei |
| tu | parleresti | crederesti | partiresti |
| lui/lei | parlerebbe | crederebbe | partirebbe |
| noi | parleremmo | crederemmo | partiremmo |
| voi | parlereste | credereste | partireste |
| loro | parlerebbero | crederebbero | partirebbero |
There are some irregular verbs, of course, but here I will give you the first conjugation only. Try to conjugate the rest on your own by adding the corresponding endings:
- Andare (to go): andrei
- Bere (to drink): berrei
- Dovere(to have to): dovrei
- Potere (to be able to): potrei
- Rimanere(to stay): rimarrei
- Sapere (to know): saprei
- Vedere (to see): vedrei
- Vivere (to live): vivrei
- Volere(to want): vorrei
Italian “if Clause” – Type 2: Examples
Se facessi sport, saresti in forma.
If you did some sport, you would be in shape.
Se avessi delle uova, farei una torta.
If I had eggs, I would make a cake.
Se non piovesse, andrei al mare.
If it didn’t rain, I would go to the beach.
La tua macchina sarebbe più bella, se la lavassi.
Your car would be nicer if you washed it.
Se cercassi lavoro, lo troveresti.
If you looked for a job, you would find it.
