The third conditional is a fascinating and somewhat intricate aspect of Portuguese grammar that often poses challenges for learners. This conditional form is used to express hypothetical situations in the past — scenarios that did not happen but are imagined for the sake of discussion. Understanding and mastering the third conditional can significantly enhance your proficiency and eloquence in Portuguese, enabling you to articulate complex thoughts and reflections about past events.
In this article, we will delve into the structure, usage, and nuances of the third conditional in Portuguese, providing you with comprehensive insights and practical examples to bolster your learning journey.
Understanding the Third Conditional in Portuguese
The third conditional in Portuguese, much like in English, is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past. It deals with events that did not happen and their imagined consequences. In English, a typical third conditional sentence might look like this: “If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.” This implies that you did not study harder and, therefore, did not pass the exam.
In Portuguese, the structure is somewhat similar but requires a good grasp of verb conjugations, particularly in the past perfect and conditional perfect tenses.
Structure of the Third Conditional
The third conditional in Portuguese is constructed using two main clauses:
1. **The “if” clause (conditional clause):** This part of the sentence uses the past perfect subjunctive tense.
2. **The main clause (result clause):** This part uses the conditional perfect tense.
Here is the general formula for constructing a third conditional sentence in Portuguese:
*Se + Past Perfect Subjunctive + Conditional Perfect*
Let’s break this down with an example:
**English:** If I had known, I would have helped you.
**Portuguese:** Se eu tivesse sabido, eu teria ajudado você.
Past Perfect Subjunctive (Pretérito Mais-Que-Perfeito do Subjuntivo)
The past perfect subjunctive is used in the “if” clause of the third conditional. This tense expresses an action that was completed before another past action. Here’s how you form it:
For regular verbs:
– **AR verbs:** Take the third person plural form of the preterite tense, drop the “-am,” and add “-asse,” “-asses,” “-asse,” “-ássemos,” “-ásseis,” “-assem.”
– **ER and IR verbs:** Take the third person plural form of the preterite tense, drop the “-am,” and add “-esse,” “-esses,” “-esse,” “-êssemos,” “-êsseis,” “-essem.”
Let’s look at the verb “falar” (to speak):
– Eu falasse
– Tu falasses
– Ele/ela/você falasse
– Nós falássemos
– Vós falásseis
– Eles/elas/vocês falassem
For the verb “comer” (to eat):
– Eu comesse
– Tu comesses
– Ele/ela/você comesse
– Nós comêssemos
– Vós comêsseis
– Eles/elas/vocês comessem
And for the verb “partir” (to leave):
– Eu partisse
– Tu partisses
– Ele/ela/você partisse
– Nós partíssemos
– Vós partísseis
– Eles/elas/vocês partissem
Conditional Perfect (Condicional Perfeito)
The conditional perfect is used in the main clause and expresses what would have happened if the condition had been met. It is formed using the conditional tense of the auxiliary verb “ter” followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Here’s the conjugation of “ter” in the conditional tense:
– Eu teria
– Tu terias
– Ele/ela/você teria
– Nós teríamos
– Vós teríeis
– Eles/elas/vocês teriam
To form the conditional perfect, simply add the past participle of the main verb. For example, with “ajudar” (to help):
– Eu teria ajudado
– Tu terias ajudado
– Ele/ela/você teria ajudado
– Nós teríamos ajudado
– Vós teríeis ajudado
– Eles/elas/vocês teriam ajudado
Examples of the Third Conditional
To help solidify your understanding, here are a few more examples of third conditional sentences in Portuguese:
1. **English:** If she had arrived on time, she would have seen the show.
**Portuguese:** Se ela tivesse chegado a tempo, ela teria visto o espetáculo.
2. **English:** If we had found the keys, we would have entered the house.
**Portuguese:** Se nós tivéssemos encontrado as chaves, nós teríamos entrado na casa.
3. **English:** If they had studied, they would have passed the test.
**Portuguese:** Se eles tivessem estudado, eles teriam passado no teste.
4. **English:** If you had called me, I would have gone to the party.
**Portuguese:** Se você tivesse me ligado, eu teria ido à festa.
Common Pitfalls and Tips
Learning the third conditional in Portuguese can be tricky, and learners often encounter several common pitfalls. Here are some tips to help you avoid these and master the third conditional:
1. Confusing Tenses: Make sure you clearly understand the difference between the past perfect subjunctive and the conditional perfect. Practice conjugating verbs in these tenses until you feel comfortable.
2. Incorrect Word Order: The structure of the sentence is important. Ensure that the “if” clause comes with the past perfect subjunctive and the main clause follows with the conditional perfect.
3. Practice with Real-Life Scenarios: Create your own sentences based on past experiences or hypothetical situations. This will help reinforce the structures and make them more intuitive.
4. Listening and Reading: Expose yourself to Portuguese media such as books, movies, and conversations. Pay attention to how native speakers use the third conditional and try to mimic their usage.
Exercises for Practice
To further help you master the third conditional in Portuguese, here are some exercises:
Exercise 1: Conjugation Practice
Conjugate the following verbs in the past perfect subjunctive and conditional perfect tenses.
1. Falar (to speak)
2. Comer (to eat)
3. Partir (to leave)
4. Estudar (to study)
5. Ver (to see)
Exercise 2: Sentence Formation
Create third conditional sentences using the following scenarios.
1. If I (to find) my wallet, I (to pay) for the dinner.
2. If she (to arrive) earlier, she (to meet) him.
3. If they (to study) harder, they (to pass) the exam.
4. If we (to know) about the event, we (to attend).
5. If you (to call) me, I (to help) you.
Exercise 3: Translation Practice
Translate the following sentences from English to Portuguese.
1. If I had known about the meeting, I would have prepared a presentation.
2. If he had taken the medicine, he would have felt better.
3. If we had left earlier, we would have caught the train.
4. If they had invited us, we would have gone to the party.
5. If she had studied, she would have passed the test.
Conclusion
Mastering the third conditional in Portuguese is a significant step towards achieving fluency and sophistication in the language. By understanding its structure and usage, practicing regularly, and immersing yourself in authentic Portuguese content, you can become adept at expressing complex hypothetical scenarios in the past.
Remember, language learning is a journey, and every step you take brings you closer to your goal. So, keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy the process of learning Portuguese. Boa sorte! (Good luck!)