🎯 Why This Matters
Hypothetical reasoning, dreaming, regrets.
Advanced argumentation and discussion of unreal situations.
🇪🇸 The Challenge
Tense shifting. Similar to the 'Subjuntivo' in Spanish, but English uses 'Past Tense' forms to indicate unreality, which is counter-intuitive (If I *was*... meaning now).
🇲🇽🇨🇴🇦🇷 WOULD in the wrong place
Problem: Spanish can use conditional in both clauses in some regions
Watch out: Saying 'If I would have money' instead of 'If I had money'
✅ Fix: WOULD goes ONLY in the result clause, NEVER in the if-clause
🧠 Mental Note: If-clause = past tense forms. Result clause = would/could/might
🇪🇸 Subjunctive parallel
Advantage: Spanish subjunctive helps you understand the unreal mood
Watch out: But English uses past tense forms, not a separate mood
✅ Fix: Think: 2nd conditional = imperfect subjunctive, 3rd = pluperfect subjunctive
🧠 Visual Explanation (The Mental Fix)
The Reality Ladder
The higher the number, the more unreal. 2nd = unreal now, 3rd = unreal past.
🗣️ Pronunciation Guide
How Spanish speakers should pronounce this structure:
Would've vs Would of
Spanish Habit: Writing 'would of' because it sounds like that
English Reality: It's 'would HAVE' contracted to 'would've' /wʊdəv/
Examples:
- would have → would've → /wʊdəv/
- could have → could've → /kʊdəv/
- should have → should've → /ʃʊdəv/
Practice: 'Would of' is ALWAYS wrong. It's 'would have' even though it sounds like 'of'
📖 How It Works
Teacher Recommendation: Teacher strongly recommended
Time Investment: 15 hours
🔑 Signal Words (Memory Anchors)
These words/phrases appear with this structure:
| English | Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| if | si | If you study, you will pass / Si estudias, aprobarás |
| unless | a menos que | Unless you hurry, we'll be late / A menos que te apures... |
| would | condicional (-ría) | I would go if I could / Iría si pudiera |
| had (+ past participle) | hubiera/hubiese | If I had known... / Si hubiera sabido... |
💬 Real Examples
Let's see this structure in action with correct vs incorrect usage:
Example 1: Using WILL in the if-clause (wrong)
✅ CORRECT: "If it rains, I will stay home."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Si llueve, me quedaré en casa."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "If it will rain, I will stay home."
Why wrong? NEVER use WILL in the if-clause. Only in the result clause.
Example 2: Second conditional - unreal present
✅ CORRECT: "If I were rich, I would travel the world."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Si fuera rico, viajaría por el mundo."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "If I would be rich, I would travel the world."
Why wrong? Use past tense (were) in if-clause, WOULD only in result clause
Example 3: Third conditional - past regret
✅ CORRECT: "If I had studied, I would have passed."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Si hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "If I would have studied, I would have passed."
Why wrong? Never use WOULD HAVE in the if-clause
✏️ Practice Exercises
Ready to test your understanding? Let's practice!