How do you form conditional sentences (periodo ipotetico) in Italian?

In Italian there are 3 different types of conditional clauses, called 'periodo ipotetico'. The 1st type express a real condition, a fact, something about which we are sure of the consequences. It is formed by using present or future indicative in both the protasis (if clause) and the apodosis (principal clause). If the present indicative is used in the protasis, in the apodosis it is possible to use both present or future, as well as the imperative. The 2nd type expresses possibility in the present. It is formed using the imperfect subjunctive in the protasis and the present conditional in the apodosis: Se lui mangiasse meno, sarebbe meglio (if he ate less, it would be better). The third type expresses impossibility, an unreal situation in the past. It is formed by using pluperfect subjunctive in the protasis and past conditional in the apodosis.

CD
Answered by Chiara D. Italian tutor

5106 Views

See similar Italian IB tutors

Related Italian IB answers

All answers ▸

How would you translate the following sentence in Italian: He told me he would have enjoyed the play if it hadn't been so long^


How can I translate in Italian: "After the 1000 expedition, Garibaldi abandoned the project of a unified italy and left the command of the enotre operation to Cavour and King Vittorio Emanuele II'.


Provide a brief analysis of Giovanni Pascoli's poem "Temporale", in fluent Italian writing.


What can I do to improve my Italian reading skills in order to pass my exam with flying colours?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning