Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences describe a condition and its consequence, following an “if… then…” structure. In Irish, these sentences consist of two parts: the protasis (an céadbheart), which is the ‘if’ clause, and the apodosis (an t-iarbheart), which is the ‘then’ clause. The ‘if’ clause is usually introduced by má or dá (“if”), or mura(r) (“if not”). The ‘then’ clause typically has no introductory word.

Like English, the order of these clauses is flexible. Irish grammar distinguishes between two main types of conditional sentences: real and unreal.

Real Conditional Sentences

Real conditional sentences, or an clásal coinníollach oscailte, are used when the condition is true, was true, will be true, or is considered possible or probable.

The condition is introduced by má for positive statements and mura(r) for negative ones.

• Positive: má fheiceann tú an fear - if you see the man
• Negative: murar ól tú fuisce - if you have not drunk whiskey

Mutations and Verb Forms

The conjunctions má and mura(r) cause initial mutations on the following verb.

After má, you must use the independent form of the verb, including the d' prefix in the past tense. After mura, use the dependent form.

The ‘If’ Clause (Protasis)

The verb in the ‘if’ clause is usually in the indicative mood.

A important rule is that má is not followed by the future tense. To express a future condition, use the present tense instead.

• Má thagann sé amárach, beidh mé anseo. - If he comes tomorrow, I will be here.

However, after the negative mura, the future tense can be used. The present subjunctive can also be used after mura to express future uncertainty.

• Cad a dhéanfaidh tú mura dtagann an traein? - What will you do if the train does not come? (Present tense for future)
• Cad a dhéanfaidh tú mura dtiocfaidh an traein? - What will you do if the train does not come? (Future tense)
• Cad a dhéanfaidh tú mura dtaga an traein? - What will you do if the train does not come? (Present subjunctive)

The ‘Then’ Clause (Apodosis)

The ‘then’ clause can be in several moods, depending on the intended meaning.

• Indicative: This is the most common form.
  • Má tá do chos briste, caithfidh tú fanacht anseo. - If your leg is broken, you must stay here.
• Imperative: Used for commands.
  • Má tá do chos briste, ná héirigh suas! - If your leg is broken, do not get up!
• Present Subjunctive: Used for wishes or prayers.
  • Má tá do chos briste, go bhfóire Dia ort. - If your leg is broken, may God help you.

To express particular certainty that the consequence will happen, you can use the “indicative of certainty”. This involves using the present tense of bí or a perfect construction where a future tense would normally be expected.

• Má chloistear thú, tá tú gafa. - If you are heard, you will certainly be caught.

Implicative Conditions

For conditions that mean “whenever” or “if ever”, the temporal conjunction nuair (“when”) followed by a direct relative clause is often used instead of má.

Unreal Conditional Sentences

Unreal conditional sentences, or an clásal coinníollach iata, are used for hypothetical situations or when a condition is impossible, counter-factual, or very unlikely.

The condition is introduced by dá for positive statements and mura for negative ones.

• Positive: dá bhfeicteá an fear - if you were to see the man
• Negative: mura bhfeicteá an fear - if you were not to see the man

Mutations and Verb Forms

The conjunctions dá and mura both cause eclipsis and require the dependent form of the verb.

The ‘If’ Clause (Protasis)

The verb in an unreal ‘if’ clause can take several forms.

• Subjunctive Preterite: This is the older standard form, which is identical in form to the imperfect indicative. It is introduced by dá or mura.
• Conditional: Today, the conditional mood is more commonly used and is synonymous with the subjunctive preterite.
  • dá bhfeicteá é (subjunctive preterite) = dá bhfeicfeá é (conditional) = if you were to see him.

Unreal conditional sentences are indifferent to time. The same structure can refer to the past, present, or future.

• Dá bhfeicfeá an fear inné/inniu/amárach… - If you had seen / were to see the man yesterday/today/tomorrow…

The ‘Then’ Clause (Apodosis)

The ‘then’ clause of an unreal sentence is almost always in the conditional mood.

The main exception is the “indicative of certainty”, which uses a past tense to vividly emphasize that the consequence would have been certain.

• Dá bhfáiscfeá a thuilleadh mise, bhí mé marbh agat! - If you had squeezed me any more, you would have killed me!
• Dá mbéadh sé sa teach nuair a dódh é, bhí sé marbh. - If he had been in the house when it burned, he would be dead.

A pluperfect meaning (“would have been”) can be formed with the past tense of bí and a verbal adjective.

• Murach í, bhí sé imithe. - If it were not for her, he would certainly have gone.

Concessive Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences can have a concessive meaning, like “even if” or “although”. These are often marked by adding féin or fiú amháin to the ‘if’ clause.

In these sentences, the connection between the clauses is looser; the consequence happens despite the condition, not because of it. This affects the grammar:

• In a real concessive sentence, the future tense can be used after má (which is not allowed in a standard real conditional).
• In an unreal concessive sentence, the ‘then’ clause can be in the indicative or imperative, not just the conditional.

Exclamatory Conditional Sentences

Conditional structures can be used as exclamations, where their meaning changes slightly.

dá for Wishes

An exclamation with dá expresses an unreal wish or a condition where the consequence is left unstated. It often translates as “If only…”.

• Dá mbeadh a fhios agat! - If you only knew!

má with Negative Meaning

In certain exclamations, má surprisingly takes on a negative meaning, equivalent to ní (“not”).

• Ar m’anam má d’aithin mé féin iad! - By my soul, I did not recognise them myself! (Literally: “if I recognised…”)
• …agus má ba thaise duit! - …and you are no less! / …and you are just the same!

mura for Sarcasm

A real conditional sentence with mura can be used to make a sarcastic remark.

• Mura glic atá tú! - Well, if you aren’t clever! (Meaning: You’re a really clever one!)

Multiple Conditions

When listing several conditions in a row, only the first one is introduced by má, dá, or mura. Subsequent conditions are joined by agus (“and”) and can take one of the following forms:

• An infinitive construction: This can use the verbal noun directly, or be a “small clause” where the verbal noun bheith is omitted. After má/dá, these are positive unless negated with gan. After mura, they are implicitly negative.
• A go/nach clause: In a real conditional, the future tense can be used after go/nach even if the first clause used the present. In an unreal conditional, the conditional mood is always used.
• The imperative (Connacht): In Conamara, a further unreal condition can be added using a verb in the imperative mood without a conjunction.