1. Conditional sentences
If you should learn these, you would be wise. 

2. What it is… A conditional sentence expresses a hypothetical situation:
If you take Latin, you are awesome.
If you were taking Latin, you would be awesome
If you will take Latin, you will be awesome
Notice that in each of these, the sentence is made up of two bits:
The conditional, “if,” bit, called the protasis.
Introduced usually by “si,” if, or “nisi,” if not/unless
The main clause, or conclusion, called the “apodosis.”

3. But not all situations are equally hypothetical…
If you are taking notes (and you very likely are), you are one of Mrs. J’s favorite students.
This type of conditional is called the SIMPLE FACT PRESENT.
The fact that this is likely makes it less hypothetical, so the Romans used the INDICATIVE (normal) mood.
Si Latinam discis, mirabilis es.
Condition type
Verb in conditional clause (protasis)
Verb in main clause (apodosis)
Simple fact—present
Present indicative

4. Another type of simple conditional sentence
Simple fact—past.
Both verbs are in a past tense, (the imperfect or perfect tenses) and the indicative mood.
If you said that (and you likely did), you were right.
Si dixisti, rectus fuisti.
Condition type
Verb in conditional clause (protasis)
Verb in main clause (apodosis)
Simple fact—present
Present indicative
Simple fact—past
Imperfect/perfect indic

5. One last simple type Simple fact—future (or the “future more vivid”)
If you study [will study] (and many of you likely will), you will be prepared for the exam.
Condition type
Verb in conditional clause (protasis)
Verb in main clause (apodosis)
Simple fact—present
Present indicative
Simple fact—past
Imperf/perfect indicative
Simple fact—future
Present/future indicative
Future indicative

6. But what’s the point of living without the subjunctive
But what’s the point of living without the subjunctive? Hypothetical conditions
Contrary to fact—present
If I were studying (but I’m not…I’m watching Pacifica for the 15th time…) I would be good.
If you were singing, you would be happy.
These use an IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE in both clauses.
NOTE: Impf subjunctive = infinitive form + personal endings
Condition type
Verb in conditional clause (protasis)
Verb in main clause (apodosis)
Simple fact—present
Present indicative
Simple fact—past
Imperf/perfect indicative
Simple fact—future
Present/future indicative
Future indicative
Contrary to fact—present
Impf subjunctive

7. Notice the translation: If… were, …would be.
Latin examples
Si hoc diceres, esses.
If you WERE SAYING this (but you’re not), you WOULD BE right.
Si linguam Hispanicam disceres, tristis esses.
If you WERE LEARNING Spanish (but you’re not), you WOULD BE sad.
Notice the translation:
If… were, …would be.

8. What about the past?
If I had said it in Latin, I would have been awesome.
si id linguā Latinā dixissem, mirabilis fuissem.
Now we use the PLUPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE in both.
Condition type
Verb in conditional clause (protasis)
Verb in main clause (apodosis)
Simple fact—present
Present indicative
Simple fact—past
Imperf/perfect indicative
Simple fact—future
Present/future indicative
Future indicative
Contrary to fact—present
Impf subjunctive
Contrary to fact—past
Plupf subjunctive

9. And one more… Future less vivid (or the “should/would”)
If you should do this (and maybe you will, maybe you won’t), you would be happy.
Uses the present subjunctive in both clauses
Si hoc facias, laetus sis.
Condition type
Verb in conditional clause (protasis)
Verb in main clause (apodosis)
Simple fact—present
Present indicative
Simple fact—past
Imperf/perfect indicative
Simple fact—future
Present/future indicative
Future indicative
Contrary to fact—present
Impf subjunctive
Contrary to fact—past
Plupf subjunctive
Future less vivid
Present subjunctive

10. Strategies to help you remember…
Recognize the patterns for subjunctives:
Present subjunctive =
We beat fat friars
Imperfect subjunctive =
Infinitive form + personal endings
Pluperfect subjunctive =
3rd part + isse + personal ending
It seems odd that the Contrary to Fact—Present uses imperfect? Think about how we say it in English:
If I were on vacation right now (but I’m not, I’m here teaching Latin), I would be swimming and getting a tan.
We use the imperfect, too!