Russian grammar - The Conditional with если бы |
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The combination если бы is used to form hypothetical conditional phrases. The action in the subjunctive clause cannot take place because the condition in the conditional clause cannot be realised - because the time has passed. • если бы should appear in the conditional clause. • And бы should be in the subjunctive clause. The aspect of the (past tense) verb in the conditional clause determines whether the phase is in the past tense ('if you had done…') or in a general present tense ('if you do…'). • a perfective aspect means 'if I had done it…' - a past hypothetical • an imperfective aspect means 'if I did it…' - a present hypothetical |
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Если бы я поела раньше, мы могли бы уйти.
If I (female) had eaten earlier, we could have left.
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Если бы ты умел водить машину, я разрешил бы тебе покататься на моей.
If you (informal) (male) could drive a car, I (male) would let you drive mine.
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Если бы она пришла сегодня вечером, то мы бы поговорили об этом.
If she had come tonight, we would have talked about it.
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Я поехал бы на юг, если бы у меня были деньги.
I (male) would have gone south if I had had money.
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Если бы только у меня было много денег!
If only I had a lot of money!
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Если бы студент готовился к экзаменам, то он сдал бы их без проблем.
If the student (male) prepared for the exams, he would pass them without problems.
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Если бы вчера была хорошая погода, мы бы обязательно пошли гулять.
If the weather had been nice yesterday, we would definitely have gone for a walk.
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Если бы ты быстрее работал, ты бы закончил работу вовремя.
If you (informal) (male) worked faster, you would finish the work on time.
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Если бы ты слушала меня, всё было бы хорошо!
If you (informal) (female) listened to me, everything would be fine!
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Если бы ты сказал мне раньше об этом, мы бы не сделали ошибки!
If you (informal) (male) had told me about this earlier, we would not have made a mistake!
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Если было бы так просто!
If only it were that easy!
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Если бы ты пошёл в театр, я бы пошёл с тобой.
If you (informal) (male) went to the theatre, I would have gone with you.
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Если бы у меня было достаточно денег, я бы купил машину.
If I had had enough money, I (male) would have bought a car.
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Если бы я занималась, то я бы сдала экзамен.
If I (female) studied, I would pass the exam.
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Если бы тебе нравился футбол, мы смотрели бы матч вместе.
If you (informal) (male) liked football, we would watch the match together.
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Если я не был бы болен, я бы пошёл.
If I (male) hadn't been sick, I would have gone.
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Если бы она попросила, я не был бы против этого.
If she had asked, I (male) wouldn't have been against it.
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Если бы вы надели пальто, вам не было бы холодно.
If you (formal) had put on a coat, you would not have been cold.
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Если бы она позвонила вчера, я бы знал об этом.
If she had called yesterday, I (male) would have known about it.
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