Conditional Question (1 Viewer)

[RJ]

Okay - this is a very specific question about how to form the conditional:

If I wanted to say something like, "If I had stayed, I would have been happier", bearing in mind that it is in the past tense, would it go like this:

"Wenn ich geblieben waere, waere ich gluecklicher gewesen"?

Basically, what I'm wondering is that when you use the past tense of the conditional, do you use the subjunctive of the auxiliary and the past participle?

btw - it's cool if no one can help - just thought I'd give it a try anyway!

 

[fitz33]

Originally posted by RJ

If I wanted to say something like, "If I had stayed, I would have been happier", bearing in mind that it is in the past tense, would it go like this:

"Wenn ich geblieben waere, waere ich gluecklicher gewesen"?

It should be:

"Wenn ich geblieben haette, waere ich gluecklicher (gewesen)"

note: the last gewesen in brackets is optional...you'd only use it if it wasn't going to be clear what you meant from the context (i.e. if it is not said, the sentence could be interpreted at "If i had stayed, i would be happier" - so you just have to take context into account so that the correct message gets across)

 

[RJ]

Thanks for that, but I'm still a bit confused. Don't you have to use "waere geblieben" since bleiben uses sein as its auxiliary?

 

[fitz33]

oops, my bad.
yeah your right.