Latin C1: If: real and unreal conditions · Grammar

Real conditions take the indicative: Si vis pacem, para bellum. Possible ones (“should… would”) take the present subjunctive: Si veniat, gaudeam. Unreal ones about the present take the imperfect subjunctive in both halves: Si dives essem, villam emerem. Unreal ones about the past take the pluperfect: Si hoc scivissem, venissem. nisi means “unless, if not”.

• si — if
• nisi — unless, if not
• sin — but if
• essem — I were
• fuissem — I had been
• haberem — I had (unreal)
• possem — I could
• vellem — I would like

• Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses. — If you had kept quiet, you would have remained a philosopher.
• Si possem, venirem. — I would come if I could.
• Nisi fallor, hic est. — Unless I am mistaken, this is him.
• Si vales, bene est. — If you are well, it is good.