Postby Massimiliano B » 2021-09-02, 13:23
Conditional sentences (part 1)
a) Zero conditional (implicative sentences): if one fact holds, then so does another.
If you heat water to 100°C , it boils. = Tka kiezauki biisi paa 100°C [gaya saaku Celsius], yuko yentumu.
tka = if
ezauki = to heat
saaku = degree
entumu = to boil
b) Type 1 conditional (predictive sentences): it concerns a situation dependent on a hypothetical (but possible) present or future event.
If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home. = Tka kumaki yayanidi, dasumidi du psaunu.
kumaki = tomorrow
ayani = to rain (yayanidi = y-: it.abs.; [ayani]; -di-: future suffix)
asumi = to stay
du = in / at
psaunu = home
I can also say
If it rains (now), I stay at home (using only the present tense) = Tka yayani, dasumi du psauni.
This is because when referring to a very near future, we can use the present tense
c) Type 2: the condition is hypothetical, and also its probable result
If it rained (now), I would stay at home (now).
Tka yayanibze, dasumibze du psauni.
The verb yayanibze is in the present tense but with the conditional/subjunctive suffix -bze.
If it rained tomorrow, I would stay at home.
Tka kumaki yayanidibze, dasumidibze du psauni.
Here, the suffixes -di- (in yayanidibze) indicate a future tense, while -bze turns it into a conditional/subjunctive.
Last edited by
Massimiliano B on 2021-09-02, 19:58, edited 3 times in total.