Conditionals play an important role in Belarusian grammar, allowing us to express hypothetical or unreal situations. In Belarusian, there are two main types of conditionals: real and unreal.

Real conditionals are used when the condition expressed in the subordinate clause is considered possible or likely to happen. They are formed using the word “kaĺi” (if) followed by the present or future tense in both clauses. For example, “Kaĺi pajdzieš ŭ park, ŭzejćie na karusel” (If you go to the park, you can ride the carousel).

Unreal conditionals, on the other hand, are used to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations. They are formed using the word “kaĺi” followed by the past tense in the subordinate clause and the conditional mood in the main clause. For example, “Kaĺi bysčanuła z dizajnu, hulić by žyła šmat ranoŭ” (If I were a designer, I would travel a lot).

It’s important to note that the word “kaĺi” is sometimes replaced with “kali” or “kali b” in colloquial speech or informal writing. Additionally, the word order can be changed, with the subordinate clause coming before the main clause.

Understanding conditionals is crucial for mastering the Belarusian language, as they allow us to express different possibilities and hypothetical scenarios in our conversations and writing.