Pluperfect subjunctive and type 3
Build an unreal past condition without changing the record.
The se-clause and its result
The pluperfect subjunctive is the imperfect subjunctive of avere or essere plus a past participle: avessi scelto, fossimo arrivati. In a type 3 conditional, se plus this form presents an unreal past condition; the main clause normally uses the past conditional for its unreal result. Do not put avrei or sarebbe directly after se in this pattern.
- Se avessimo scelto le interviste, avremmo avviato il progetto pilota.· If we had chosen the interviews, we would have started the pilot.
- Se fossero arrivati altri fondi, il consiglio avrebbe valutato entrambi.· If more funds had arrived, the council would have considered both.
- Avremmo chiesto nuovi preventivi se avessimo progettato due interventi ridotti.· We would have requested new quotes if we had planned two smaller projects.
- Se Elena avesse consultato i volontari, avrebbe potuto conoscere prima le loro priorità.· If Elena had consulted the volunteers, she might have learned their priorities earlier.
State a possible result with care
A grammatically correct conditional can still claim too much. In the archive story, Antonio was not interviewed, and his consent is unknown. Say avremmo potuto invitarlo for a missed possibility. Do not state as fact that he would have told every story. Compare the unreal sentence with the documented inventory completion.
- Se avessimo fatto il progetto pilota, avremmo potuto invitare Antonio.· If we had done the pilot, we could have invited Antonio.
- Non sappiamo se Antonio avrebbe accettato.· We do not know whether Antonio would have agreed.
- Se avessimo diviso il fondo, avremmo avuto bisogno di nuovi preventivi.· If we had split the fund, we would have needed new quotes.
- Nella realtà, l’inventario fu completato nel 2020.· In reality, the inventory was completed in 2020.