Conditional
The conditional is formed using the modal"would" in front of an infinitive (dropping the word "to"). The conditional is used especially in three contexts:
1) Politeness
I would like the menu, please.
Would you have a couple of minutes for me?
2) To indicate the "future within the past":
She said she would come to the party.
I thought he would arrive before me.
3) In hypothetical constructions with "if." When "if" is followed by the preterit or the subjunctive, the conditional is expected in the second clause:
If I had the time, I would do my homework.
If you told me the truth, I would believe you. The "if" of hypothetical expressions can be implicit:
In your position (= if I were you), I wouldn't have stayed.
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES Cuando deseas hablar acerca de una "posible" situación y sus resultados, debes utilizar una oración condicional. Observa estos ejemplos:
If people invite you to a party, they expect you to come properly dressed.(Si te invitan a una fiesta, se espera que vayas correctamente vestido/a)
If I wear the green jacket, it'll go with my new shoes.(Si uso la chaqueta verde, ésta hará juego con mis zapatos nuevos)
En este tipo de oraciones condicionales existe una posibilidad real de que suceda lo que en ellas se expresa. Básicamente, existen DOS tipos de estructuras:
CLAUSULA CONDICIONAL
IF + present simple
CLAUSULA PRINCIPAL
present simple
Se usa este tipo de oración condicional para hablar acerca de algo que siempre sucede. Es como una ley. En este tipo de condición if(si) tiene un significado similar a when (cuando):
If you put water in a cooler, it freezes.(Si colocas agua en el congelador, ésta se congela) (= When you put water in a cooler, it freezes)(Cuando colocas agua en el congelador, ésta se congela)
If you heat ice, it melts.(Si calientas hielo, éste se derrite)
(= When you heat ice, it melts)(Cuando calientas hielo, éste se derrite)
CLAUSULA CONDICIONAL
IF + present simple
CLAUSULA PRINCIPAL
WILL / 'LL / WON'T + infinitive
En cambio, se utiliza esta segunda alternativa de oración condicional para hablar acerca de un probable resultado futuro, es decir, que no es absolutamente seguro:
If I wear the green jacket, it'll go with my new shoes. (Si uso la chaqueta verde, ésta hará juego con mis zapatos nuevos)
If you don't study, you won't pass the FCE exam.(Si no estudias, no aprobarás el examen de First Certificate) >>;-( En estas oraciones condicionales generalmente podemos utilizar unless(a menos que) en lugar de la estructura if... not(si... no). Observa:
Unless you study, you won't pass the exam.(A menos que estudies, no aprobarás el examen de First Certificate)
(= If you don't study, you won't pass the exam)(= Si no estudias, no aprobarás el examen)
Unless I wear clothes like theirs, my friends will think I'm a bit strange.(A menos que use el mismo tipo de ropa que ellos, mis amigos pensarán que soy algo raro/a)
(= If I don't wear clothes like theirs, my friends will think I'm a bit strange)(Si no uso el mismo tipo de ropa que ellos, mis compañeros pensarán que soy algo raro/a) Los ejemplos que has analizado arriba muestran dos patrones diferentes para esta case de condiciones. Sin embargo, son posibles también otras combinaciones de formas verbales. Aquí tienes dos ejemplos:
If you get the chance, visit Buenos Aires in spring.(Si tienes la oportunidad, visita Buenos Aires en primavera) If you're not nervous, why is your hand shaking?(Si no estás nervioso/a, ¿por qué está temblando tu mano?) Las combinaciones posibles pueden llevar incluso verbos modales como en estos tres ejemplos.
If you have finished, you may go.
>> MODAL VERB: may (Si has terminado, puedes irte)
If you're feeling ill, you ought to see a doctor.
>> MODAL VERB: ought to (Si te estás sintiendo mal, deberías ver a un médico)
If Mirta, Ricardo and Miguel could do those webs, they can do anything.>> MODAL VERBS: could (past) - can (present) (Si Mirta, Ricardo y Miguel pudieron hacer esas webs, pueden hacer cualquier cosa).
conditional type 0 >> ZERO CONDITIONAL
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + SIMPLE PRESENT Used for scientific facts or general truths (usado para expresar verdades científicas, hechos que nunca cambian o situaciones que siempre ocurren). Algunos gramáticos incluyen este tipo de condicional dentro de FIRST CONDITIONAL o Conditional Type I.
If you heat butter, it melts. Si calientas manteca, ésta se derrite.
If you put water in a cooler, it freezes. Si colocas agua en el congelador, ésta se congela.
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils. Si calientas agua a 100 grados, ésta hierve.
If you cross an international date line, the time changes. Si cruzas una línea de tiempo internacional, la hora cambia.
If you drop ice in water, it floats. Si tiras hielo al agua, éste flota.
If iron gets wet, it rusts. Si el hierro se moja, se oxida.
conditional type I >> FIRST CONDITIONAL
Used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future. It is generally used for things which may happen (utilizado para cosas que pueden ocurrir en presente o futuro).
a) IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + SIMPLE FUTURE
If you study hard, you will pass your exams. Si estudias intensamente aprobarás tus exámenes.
If we do not protect the panda bears, they will soon become extinct. Si no protegemos a los osos panda, pronto se extinguirán.
b) IMPERATIVE + OR / AND + SIMPLE FUTUREUsed for threats and promises (usado para expresar amenazas y promesas)
Don't say a word about this, or I will kill you. No cuentes una palabra de esto o te mato.
Finish your job, and you will have a bonus. Termina tu tarea y tendrás una gratificación.
c) IMPERATIVO + IF / IN CASE + SIMPLE PRESENT
Contact me if you need any help. Ponte en contacto conmigo si necesitas ayuda.
Call them in case you need help. Llámalos en caso de necesitar ayuda.
NOTE: In cases b and d above, you can replace IF (si) by UNLESS (a menos que)
conditional type II >> SECOND CONDITIONAL
Used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future. It is generally used for things which don't or won't happen. It is generally used for things which may happen (utilizado en presente o futuro para expresar situaciones hipotéticas, que normalmente son irreales o imposibles).
IF + SIMPLE PAST + SIMPLE CONDITIONAL
If FIRST verb in the sentence is TO BE, WERE is used for all persons.
(Si el PRIMER verbo de la oración es TO BE, se usa WERE para todas las personas)
If I were rich, I would buy a castle. Si fuera rico, compraría un castillo.
If I were him, I would go and see a doctor. Si fuera él -en su lugar- consultaría con un médico.
If elephants had wings, they would be able to fly. Si los elefantes tuvieran alas, podrían volar.
NOTE: You can replace IF (si) by UNLESS (a menos que) in the examples above.
conditional type III >> THIRD CONDITIONAL
Used to talk about unreal situations in the past, that is, things which did not happen in the past. (utilizado para expresar situaciones irreales – que nunca sucedieron – en el pasado y, en general, dentro de un contexto de crítica, queja o remordimiento). En español tienes una construcción similar por lo cual este condicional no debería resultar complicado.
IF + PAST PERFECT + CONDITIONAL PERFECT
If FIRST verb in the sentence is TO BE, WERE is used for all persons.
(Si el PRIMER verbo de la oración es TO BE, se usa WERE para todas las personas)
If I had known that you were sick, I would have gone to see you. Si hubiese sabido que estabas enfermo, te habría ido a ver.
The real situation was that I didn't know you were sick. So I say If I had known... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (I had known) after IF.
If you had saved your money, you could have bought a laptop. Si hubieses ahorrado tu dinero, podrías haberte comprado una computadora.
The real situation was that you didn't save your money. So they say If you had saved... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (I had known) after IF.
If you hadn't been late for work so often, they wouldn't have fired you. Si no hubieses llegado tarde al trabajo tan seguido, no te habrían despedido.
The real situation was that you wasn't early for work. So they say If you hadn't been late... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (I had known) after IF.
NOTE: You can replace IF (si) by UNLESS (a menos que) in the examples above.
Se usan can y be able to para hablar de habilidad en inglés.
A veces se puede usar los dos para hablar de lo mismo. PERO hay veces que es necessario usar solo una forma ó la otra.
1. Habilidad en el presente
Se puede usar ambos be able to y can. PERO can es mas commun, especialmente cuando estamos hablando de una habilidad aprendida.
Ejemplo:
Peter can speak French es mas commun que Peter is able to speak French. 2. Habilidad en el futuro
Siempre se usa will be able to para hablar del futuro
Ejemplo:
I will be able to speak Chinese next year. Podré hablar Chino el año que viene.
3. Habilidad general en el pasado
Se puede usar couldorwas/were able to.PERO could es mas commun.
Ejemplos:
I could swim when I was 5 years old es mas commun que I was able to swim when I was 5 years old.
I could play the piano when I was young es mas commun que I was able to play the piano when I was young.
4. Habilidad de hacer algo en una ocasion ESPECIFICA en el pasado
NO SE PUEDE usar could. Se usa was/were able to Ejemplos:
I was able to catch the 5 o'clock train to London. Pude coger el tren de las 5 a Londres.
He was able to finish his project before the deadline. Pudo terminar el proyecto antes del plazo de entrega.
5. Cuando la frase es NEGATIVO en el PASADO se puede usar COULDN'T en todas las frases.
Ejemplos:
I couldn't catch the 5 o'clock train to London. No pude coger el tren a Londres.
He couldn't finish his project before the deadline. No pudo terminar el proyecto antes del plazo de entrega.
Although we look at be able to here, it is not a modal verb. It is simply the verb be plus an adjective (able) followed by the infinitive. We look at be able to here because we sometimes use it instead of can and could.
We use be able to:
to talk about ability
Structure of Be able to
The structure of be able to is: subject + be + able + infinitive
subject
be main verb
able adjective
infinitive
+
I
am
able
to drive.
-
She
is not
able
to drive.
isn't
?
Are
you
able
to drive?
Notice that be able to is possible in all tenses, for example:
I was able to drive...
I will be able to drive...
I have been able to drive...
Notice too that be able to has an infinitive form:
I would like to be able to speak Chinese.
Use of Be able to
Be able to is not a modal auxiliary verb. We include it here for convenience, because it is often used like "can" and "could", which are modal auxiliary verbs.
be able to: ability
We use be able to to express ability. "Able" is an adjective meaning: having the power, skill or means to do something. If we say "I am able to swim", it is like saying "I can swim". We sometimes use "be able to" instead of "can" or "could" for ability. "Be able to" is possible in all tenses - but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is possible only in the past for ability. In addition, "can" and "could" have no infinitive form. So we use "be able to" when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive. Look at these examples:
I have been able to swim since I was five. (present perfect)
You will be able to speak perfect English very soon. (future simple)
I would like to be able to fly an airplane. (infinitive)
Se utiliza cuando queremos decir que alguien es capaz de algo, que puede. Can y Could pueden ser reemplazados en ciertos casos por esta forma verbal.
To be able to - ser capaz de, poder
La expresión "to be able to" posee un significado similar a la de los modales "can" y "could", sin embargo no es un auxiliar modal dado que puede conjugarse en todos los tiempos verbales.
To be able to + infinitive: (capacidad, aptitud) saber, poder, ser capaz de Can + base form: (capacidad, aptitud) poder, saber, a veces no se traduce
El uso de "be able to" en el Presente Simple (am/is/are able to) es poco frecuente aunque posible. Para este tiempo verbal, el empleo de "can" es más común.
Helen can speak five languages fluently.
Helen puede hablar cinco idiomas con fluidez.
Helen is able to speak five languages fluently.(poco común)
Helen puede hablar cinco idiomas con fluidez.
Can you hear me well?
¿Me puedes oír bien?
Are you able to hear me well?(poco común)
¿Me puedes oír bien?
Be able to" se emplea más a menudo en combinación con otros auxiliares.
You will be able to get tickets to the concert if you arrive at the box office early.
Podrás conseguir entradas para el recital si llegas a la boletería temprano.
Will you be able to come with us?
¿Podrás venir con nosotros?
The kids have not been able to study much today.
Los niños no han sido capaces de estudiar mucho hoy.
Ms. Peterson has been able to contact Mr. Hope this morning.
La Sra. Peterson pudo contactar al Sr. Hope esta mañana.
The police were finally able to solve the mystery.
La policía pudo finalmente resolver el misterio.
Jim was not able to meet Richard yesterday.
Jim no pudo encontrarse con Richard ayer.
Mom had been able to clean the house before we got home.
Mamá había podido limpiar la casa antes de que llegáramos a casa.
After I had been able to open the box, I discovered that it was empty.
Depués de que había podido abrir la caja, descubrí que estaba vacía.
If Betsy danced every day, she would be able to become a professional dancer.
Si Betsy bailara todos los días, podría llegar a ser una bailarina profesional.
Peter would be able to speak Italian if he lived in Rome for a year.
Peter sería capaz de hablar italiano si viviera en Roma durante un año.
Was/were able to & Could
Was able to - pude (Indica una capacidad específica para realizar un acto que existió en el pasado en un momento determinado.) Could - podía, pude (Se refiere a una aptitud o capacidad general que existía en el pasado pero que ya no existe más.)
That soccer player was able to score nine goals last season.
Ese jugador de fútbol pudo marcar nueve goles la temporada pasada.
Our team was able to beat yours in the World Cup.
Nuestro equipo pudo derrotar al tuyo en la Copa del Mundo.
We were all able to pass the test last week.
Todos pudimos aprobar el examen la semana pasada.
At the conference, the speaker could answer all the questions.
En la conferencia, el orador pudo contestar todas las preguntas.
When Grace was five, she could walk on her hands.
Cuando Grace tenía cinco años, podía caminar con las manos.
When David was a boy, he could run very fast.
Cuando David era un niño, podía correr muy rápido.
En las oraciones negativas no existe diferencia entre el uso de "could" y "was/were able to".
The climbers could not/were not able to reach the summit yesterday.
Los escaladores no pudieron llegar a la cima ayer.
Tom could not/was not able to win the contest last year.
Tom no pudo ganar el concurso el año pasado.
To manage to + infinitive - lograr, poder (no es un auxiliar modal)
The climbers could not/were not able to reach the summit yesterday.
Los escaladores no pudieron llegar a la cima ayer.
Tom could not/was not able to win the contest last year.
Tom no pudo ganar el concurso el año pasado.
To manage to + infinitive - lograr, poder (no es un auxiliar modal)
The children managed to reach the tree top.
Los niños lograron subir a la copa del árbol.
They managed to persuade us to travel around Europe with them.
Lograron convencernos para que viajemos con ellos por Europa.
How did you manage to get a round trip ticket to New York two days before Christmas?
¿Cómo lograste conseguir un pasaje de ida y vuelta a New York dos días antes de Navidad?
