Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:18am

I have to use the "imperfecto del subjuntivo" in a sentence. I am using it in a "Si" (if) clause. For example:

Si yo estuviera ahora en Costa Rica hablaría español.
(If I lived in Costa Rica, I would speak Spanish).

My question: do both verbs in the sentence have to be in "yo" form? Or is it possible to write a sentence like this:

Si no estudiaras cada noche, la clase estaría muy difícil.
(If you do not study each night, the class would be difficult).

Is the second sentence incorrect grammar? Would it be the class "will be" difficult, therefore making you use the future tense?

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:23am

The second sentence is fine, except it should be:

Si no estudiaras cada noche, la clase sería muy difícil.

But what you're saying is: "If you didn't study every night, the class would be very difficult"

If you want to say "If you do not study each night, the class would be difficult"

it would be something like: "Si no estudias todas las noches, la clase sera dificil."

I'm a native Spanish speaker. I know jack **** about grammatical rules. Just going by what "sounds" right in my own language.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:25am

ditto chica... my head started spinning when I read the subjuntivo something or other...

Yo soy de Costa Rica.

[duroc]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:33am

I took some spanish in school and I don't see why both verbs would 'have' to be in the yo form. I don't think there's a gramatical rule for continuing one verb form.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:36am

Hey DayDreamer! Mucho gusto. De Puerto Rico :)

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:38am

If you want to say "If you do not study each night, the class would be difficult"

it would be something like: "Si no estudias todas las noches, la clase sera dificil."

I think it would be more "...the class WILL be difficult."

Anyway, there is no rule the verbs have to be the same. It's based on the subject of the verb.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:50am

The problem is that to say "If you don't study every night, the class would be difficult" sounds REALLY awkward: "Si no estudias todas las noches, la clase seria dificil"

It just sounds wrong. So "La clase sera dificil" is a better choice.

Word

[BluCat500]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 1:16am

I think the first clause needs to be past tense to use the conditional afterwards...

If you didn't study every night, the class would be difficult.

si no estudiabas cada noche, la clase seria dificil.

Sounds much less awkward.

Updated On: 4/27/06 at 01:16 AM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 1:39am

The rule is, with "Si" clauses:

Si + past subjunctive, ....conditional.

Si + present imperfective, .....future.

I think that's right.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 1:46am

Wow. I took Spanish for three and a half years and I can't put together a sentence more complicated than "Me llamo Maris. Me gusta el teatro y mis gatos."

[paradox_error]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 2:20am

Ouch Rose! I've been studying Spanish 7 weeks and I can say that!

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 2:31am

My comprehension is loads better than my speaking skills. I would like to spend some time in a spanish speaking country.

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:10pm

It's sad that I'm learning the same thing as Millie and I have no idea what she's talking about. I only knew because of the Si (if) clause part.