Practice Makes Perfect Spanish Verb Tenses, Second ... - Ktooba.com

4. If you knew the answer, would you tell us?
5. If giraff es (la jirafa) didn’t have long necks (el cuello), they couldn’t eat leaves (la hoja).
6. If it weren’t for gravity (la gravedad), we would fl oat (fl otar) like bubbles (la burbuja).
7. The bears wouldn’t eat your food if you hung (colgar) it from a tree.
8. If Pinocchio didn’t lie so much, people would believe him once in a while (de vez en cuando).
9. If there were no cars, there wouldn’t be so much pollution (la contaminación).
10. If he weren’t so lazy (perezoso), I’d hire (contratar) him.
11. If it weren’t raining, we could take a walk in the park.
12. If it weren’t so cold, I would ride my bicycle (ir en bicicleta) to work.
13. This ring (el anillo) would be worth (valer) a lot more money if the diamond were genuine.
14. If my car started (arrancar) in this weather, it would be a miracle (el milagro).
15. If pigs could fl y, where would they go?
“as if” and “as though” clauses
Th e verb in a subordinate clause that begins with “as if ” or “as though” (como si) is in the imperfect
subjunctive. Th e main clause can be in the present, the past, or the conditional tense.
Te ves como si fueras culpable. You look as if you were guilty.
Actuábamos como si estuviéramos enfermos. We acted as if we were sick.
Él se puso el sombrero como si fuera el rey. He put on his hat as though he were the king.
Hablaban como si supieran todo. Th ey were talking as if they knew everything.
238 practice makes perfect Spanish Verb Tenses