Imperfect subjunctive and conditional
Use the imperfect subjunctive with a conditional result to imagine unreal or unlikely situations.
Examples
PortugueseTranslation
Se eu tivesse mais tempo, viajaria mais.
If I had more time, I would travel more.
Se ela soubesse disso, reagiria de outra forma.
If she knew that, she would react differently.
Se estivéssemos mais perto, almoçaríamos juntos.
If we were closer, we would have lunch together.
Pattern
se + imperfect subjunctive, conditional
How it works
Use the imperfect subjunctive with a conditional result to imagine unreal or unlikely situations. This pattern typically appears as se + imperfect subjunctive, conditional and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The se clause and result clause work as a fixed pair here.
- This is a major pattern for advice, reflection, and argument.
Why it matters
Use mood to express concession, distance, and unreality more precisely.
Use in context
This pattern gives Portuguese a much richer hypothetical range at B2.