Understanding Real and Unreal Conditionals in Armenian Grammar

Real Conditionals in Armenian Grammar
Real conditionals, also called factual conditionals, are grammatical structures that express a cause-and-effect relationship between two clauses. The condition that needs to be fulfilled is presented in the if-clause, while the consequence happens in the main clause. These conditionals are called “real” because they describe situations that are either true or possible in reality. In Armenian Grammar, real conditionals can be divided into three types:

1. Zero Conditionals

Zero conditionals are used for situations that are always true or often a result of a certain condition. These sentences typically contain simple present verbs in both clauses. For example:
– Եթե ջերմաստիճանը բարձրանում է, ձիթերը հալեցում է (Yet’e jermastijanë bardzranum e, dziterë halec’um e)
If the temperature rises, the ice melts.

2. First Conditionals

First conditionals indicate possible future events based on present conditions. In these sentences, the if-clause has a simple present verb, while the main clause contains the future simple tense. For example:
– Եթե դուք գումար չեք վճարել, նրանք ձեր հաշվը կարգելկարգել են (Yet’e duk’ goomar ch’ek’ vch’arel, nranyahu dzër hashvy kargelkargel en)
If you don’t pay the money, they will block your account.

3. Second Conditionals

Second conditionals are used for hypothetical situations in the present or future. These sentences use the past simple tense in the if-clause and ‘would + verb’ in the main clause. For example:
– Եթե այդ օրը տարածքում լիներին, ես գաղտնիքը գտնեին (Yet’e ayd orë tarac’koome linerin, es gakhtnike gtnein)
If I were in the space that day, I would find the secret.

Unreal Conditionals in Armenian Grammar
Unreal conditionals, also known as counterfactual conditionals, express hypothetical or impossible situations and their imagined consequences. In Armenian Grammar, these conditionals can be divided into two types:

1. Third Conditionals

Third conditionals are used to describe hypothetical situations in the past and their unrealized outcomes. These sentences contain the past perfect tense in the if-clause and ‘would have + past participle’ in the main clause. For example:
– Եթե ես գիտեի այն մասին, ես այլություն ընտրեին (Yet’e es gitei ayn masin, es aylutyun ëntrerin)
If I had known about it, I would have chosen differently.

2. Mixed Conditionals

Mixed conditionals are used when combining real and unreal conditionals, expressing hypothetical situations in the past or present with their consequences in a different time. These sentences can either have a past perfect verb in the if-clause and ‘would+verb’ in the main clause, or a simple past verb in the if-clause and ‘would have + past participle’ in the main clause. For example:
– Եթե նրանք չէին մոտենում, ես քիչ-ավելի լավը կյանք ունենային (Yet’e nranyahu chein motenoom, es kich-aveli lavë kyank’ oonenayin)
If they hadn’t come, I would have had a slightly better life.

Armenian grammar, like English, relies heavily on the context and word placement to express conditionals. By understanding the difference between real and unreal conditionals, you can create grammatically correct and effective sentences in the Armenian language.