Lately, our lessons have focused on the various uses of the Italian conditional mood, both past and present. In our last lesson, we went over how and when one uses the conditional in independent clauses; now, to wrap it all up, we will investigate the conditions that necessitate the conditional in the subordinate clause of a two-clause sentence.
In Italian, many types of subordinate clauses require the conditional. We will now list these specific cases below, providing examples to see the conditional in action. Keep an eye out for the underlined words in the examples; these words are linked to the conditional verbs. In other words, they are what trigger the conditional verbs in the subordinate clauses.
In Italian, many types of subordinate clauses require the conditional. We will now list these specific cases below, providing examples to see the conditional in action. Keep an eye out for the underlined words in the examples; these words are linked to the conditional verbs. In other words, they are what trigger the conditional verbs in the subordinate clauses.
- Indirect Interrogatives: These constructions express hypothetical situations, almost as if one were thinking/wondering out loud.
Non so che cosa avrei detto al posto tuo.
I don’t know what I would have said in your shoes. - Causative Clauses: These clauses use the conditional to elaborate on a feeling or action expressed in the main clause.
Ho scritto a Giovanni perché vorrei convincerlo a partecipare alla manifestazione.
I wrote to Giovanni because I would like to convince him to attend the rally. - Result Clauses (Consecutive Clauses): With these constructions, the subordinate clause describes the effect of what is expressed in the main clause. (As we can see, talmente and così are often present in the supporting clause).
Era talmente convinta di avere ragione che non avrebbe mai cambiato idea.
She was so convinced she was right, that she would have never changed her mind. - Temporal Clauses: These constructions convey a time-related situation; they express the temporal relationship between the two clauses.
A volte devi uscire quando preferiresti rimanere a casa.
Sometimes you have to go out when you would prefer to stay at home. - Adversative Clauses: These subordinate clauses refer to events and situations that are opposite to those expressed in the main clause. Common triggers for adversative clauses are mentre (or mentre invece) - while/while instead, quando (or quando invece) - when/when instead, and laddove - whereas.
Anche quest’anno la giuria ha scelto di premiare uno scrittore affermato, mentre sarebbe stato più saggio scegliere un autore emergente.
This year again the jury chose to reward an established writer, while it would have been wiser to choose an up and coming author. - Comparative Clauses: A comparative clause introduces a comparison with what is expressed in the supporting clause. Common triggers for the conditional in comparative clauses are (più/meno)... di come, (più/meno)... di quanto.
Il problema era più complesso di quanto avremmo immaginato.
The problem was more complex than what we had thought. - Relative Clauses: Relative clauses modify nouns that are presented in the main clause. Usually, the relative pronoun che or chi separate these two clauses.
Ci sono dei ragazzi che darebbero qualunque cosa per guidare quell’automobile.
There are boys who/that would give anything to drive that car. - Objective Clauses: These subordinate clauses replace the direct object of a verb in a sentence. As we can see in the example below, the subordinate clause acts as the direct object of the verb penso.
Penso che dovresti partecipare anche tu alla riunione di condominio.
I think that you too should participate at the house (condominium) meeting. - Subject Clauses: These subordinate clauses act like the subject complement to the main clause, which in this case is: È ovvio.
È ovvio che mio fratello avrebbe preferito un ufficio con vista sul giardino.
It’s obvious that my brother would have preferred an office with a view of the garden.