Language/Bulgarian/Grammar/Conditional-Sentences

◀️ Modal Verbs — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Birthday Parties ▶️

Bulgarian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Conditional Sentences

Welcome to our lesson on conditional sentences in Bulgarian! Conditional sentences are essential in any language as they allow us to express possibilities, hypothetical situations, and the consequences that follow certain actions. They are like a bridge between our wishes and reality, and understanding how to construct them in Bulgarian will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively.

In this lesson, we will:

• Explore the structure of conditional sentences in Bulgarian.

• Learn about the conjunctions used to form these sentences.

• Review examples to illustrate how these sentences work in practice.

• Engage in exercises to solidify your understanding.

This lesson is part of the Complete 0 to A1 Bulgarian Course, which aims to take you from a complete beginner to an A1 level in Bulgarian. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be equipped to form and understand basic conditional sentences, paving the way for more complex language skills.

Introduction to Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences are built around situations that may or may not happen, often introduced by conjunctions. In Bulgarian, the most common conjunctions used for conditional sentences are "ако" (if) and "щом" (as long as). Let's break down how these work!

Structure of Conditional Sentences

In Bulgarian, a conditional sentence generally consists of two parts:

1. The condition (the "if" part).

2. The result (the consequence).

The basic structure is:

• Condition + Result

For example:

• Ако имам време, ще дойда.

(If I have time, I will come.)

Here, "ако имам време" is the condition, and "ще дойда" is the result.

Using "ако" and "щом"

"Ако" is used for hypothetical situations, while "щом" implies a more definite condition, often related to expectations.

Examples:

• Ако учиш, ще успееш.

(If you study, you will succeed.)

• Щом дойдеш, ще започнем.

(As long as you come, we will start.)

Examples of Conditional Sentences

Let's look at some more examples to illustrate the construction of conditional sentences in Bulgarian.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Ако не вали, ще излезем.	Ako ne vali, shte izlezem.	If it doesn't rain, we will go out.
Щом си готов, можем да тръгваме.	Shtom si gotov, mozhem da trugvame.	As long as you are ready, we can leave.
Ако имаш въпроси, питай.	Ako imash vaprosi, pitai.	If you have questions, ask.
Щом е хубаво времето, ще отидем на плажа.	Shtom e hubavo vremeto, shte otidem na plyazha.	As long as the weather is nice, we will go to the beach.
Ако вземеш автобуса, ще пристигнеш навреме.	Ako vzemesh avtobusa, shte pristignesh navreme.	If you take the bus, you will arrive on time.
Щом не си уморен, можем да играем.	Shtom ne si umoren, mozhem da igraem.	As long as you are not tired, we can play.
Ако ми помогнеш, ще ти бъда благодарен.	Ako mi pomognesh, shte ti bada blagodaren.	If you help me, I will be grateful to you.
Щом имаш време, можем да се видим.	Shtom imash vreme, mozhem da se vidim.	As long as you have time, we can meet.
Ако имаш нужда от помощ, обади ми се.	Ako imash nuzhda ot pomoshch, obadi mi se.	If you need help, call me.
Щом децата са щастливи, и ние сме щастливи.	Shtom detsata sa shtastlivi, i nie sme shtastlivi.	As long as the children are happy, we are happy.

Forming Conditional Sentences

To form a conditional sentence in Bulgarian, consider the following steps:

1. Identify the condition: What is the hypothetical situation?

2. Determine the result: What happens if the condition is met?

3. Use the right conjunction: Choose between "ако" for general conditions or "щом" for more certain conditions.

4. Construct the sentence: Put the pieces together.

Exercises to Practice Conditional Sentences

Now that we've covered the theory, let’s put your skills to the test with some exercises!

Exercise 1: Identify the Condition and Result

Read the following sentences and identify the condition and the result.

1. Ако дъждът спре, ще отидем на разходка.

2. Щом завършиш работата, можеш да починеш.

3. Ако имаш време, ще ти покажа града.

Solutions:

1. Condition: "Ако дъждът спре", Result: "ще отидем на разходка."

2. Condition: "Щом завършиш работата", Result: "можеш да починеш."

3. Condition: "Ако имаш време", Result: "ще ти покажа града."

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences using "ако" or "щом".

1. __________ (If) ти искаш, можем да отидем на кино.

2. __________ (As long as) се чувстваш добре, можеш да останеш.

3. __________ (If) не знаеш, питай.

Solutions:

1. Ако

2. Щом

3. Ако

Exercise 3: Create Your Sentences

Using the following conditions, create full sentences.

1. If I finish my homework...

2. As long as it’s sunny...

3. If you call me...

Sample Solutions:

1. Ако завърша домашното си, ще изляза.

2. Щом е слънчево, ще отидем на плажа.

3. Ако ми се обадиш, ще те чуя.

Exercise 4: True or False

Determine if the following sentences are correct. If not, correct them.

1. Щом не вали, ще отидем в планината. (True / False)

2. Ако имаш време, можеш да учиш. (True / False)

3. Щом е късно, ще потърсим помощ. (True / False)

Solutions:

1. True

2. True

3. True

Exercise 5: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following English sentences into Bulgarian using conditional structures.

1. If I have money, I will buy a car.

2. As long as you are happy, I am happy.

3. If they invite us, we will go.

Sample Solutions:

1. Ако имам пари, ще купя кола.

2. Щом си щастлив, и аз съм щастлив.

3. Ако ни поканят, ще отидем.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve now learned the basics of forming conditional sentences in Bulgarian. Remember, practice makes perfect, so feel free to revisit this lesson and try out more examples and exercises. The more you use these structures, the more natural they will become in your speech.

Table of Contents - Bulgarian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and sounds

• Cyrillic alphabet
• Vowels
• Consonants

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introducing yourself
• Numbers 0-100

  ---

Bulgarian Traditions

• Bulgarian Folklore
• Cuisine
• Holidays and Customs

  ---

Nouns and Adjectives

• Gender
• Cases
• Adjectives

  ---

At the Restaurant

• Ordering Food
• Making Special Requests
• Paying the Bill

  ---

Bulgarian Cinema and Literature

• Bulgarian Cinema
• Bulgarian Literature
• Literary Translation

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Perfective and Imperfective Verbs
• Past Tense

  ---

Traveling

• Transportation
• Booking a Hotel
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Bulgarian Music

• Bulgarian Pop Music
• Traditional Bulgarian Music
• Music Festivals

  ---

Future Tense and Modals

• Future Tense
• Modal Verbs
• Conditional Sentences

  ---

Celebrations and Festivities

• Birthday Parties
• Weddings and Marriage Customs
• Religious Holidays

  ---

Bulgarian Theatre and Performance Arts

• Bulgarian Theatre
• Puppet Theatre
• Dance

Sources

• Bulgarian verbs - Wikipedia
• Bulgarian Grammar
• Bulgarian grammar - Wikipedia
• Imperfect(ive) variation: The case of Bulgarian - ScienceDirect

Other Lessons

• DEGREES OF COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES – Степенуване на прилагателните
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Past Tense
• Pronouns
• CARDINAL NUMERALS – Бройни числителни
• SHORT POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS – Кратки притежателни местоимения
• Future Tense
• Personal Pronouns
• Gender
• GENERALIZING PRONOUNS – Обобщителни местоимения

◀️ Modal Verbs — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Birthday Parties ▶️