MAR: Lesson - Grammar - Mixed Conditional Sentences (Subjunctive)

Mixed Conditional Sentences (Subjunctive)

Conditional sentences in Latin can be in either the indicative mood or the subjunctive mood. The final subjunctive mood conditional sentence is called Mixed, and is a form of the contrary to fact conditional.

Mixed Conditional Sentences

In a Mixed construction, the protasis will be in the pluperfect tense and apodosis will be imperfect. In these conditionals, as with regular contrary to fact conditionals, the protasis sets up action that we understand had not been happening. The apodosis tells us what would have happened if the action in the protasis had occurred. Translate: had...would

• Si adfuisset, laetus esset.
• Translation: If he had been here, he would (still) be happy (now).

Consider the following:

• Setting up the protasis in the pluperfect tense indicates action that could have happened, but did not.
• Setting up the apodosis in the imperfect tense indicates an outcome that could still be happening, if only the protasis had occurred.
• "If he had been here" = he was not and still is not (and likely never will be)
• "he would be happy" = stated as a consequence of the action that is not happening, which would be ongoing, if the protasis had been fulfilled

Additional Examples

Let's look at a few additional examples of Mixed Conditionals:

• Si studuissemus, disceremus.
  • If we had studied, we would be learning.
• Nisi laeta fuisset, nemo esset laetus.
  • If she had been unhappy, no one would be happy (now).
• Example from Classical Literature:
  • Si meum consilium valuisset, tu hodie egeres, res publica non tot duces amisisse. (Cicero, Philipics, 2.37)
  • If my judgment had prevailed [as it did not], you would this day be a beggar, and the republic would not have lost so many leaders.