Language/Armenian/Grammar/Conditional-Sentences
In this lesson, we will explore the fascinating world of conditional sentences in Armenian. Conditional sentences are essential for expressing possibilities, hypothetical situations, and the consequences of actions. They allow you to convey what might happen under certain conditions, making your conversations richer and more engaging.
Understanding conditional sentences is crucial for beginners as it lays the groundwork for more complex sentence structures in the future. In this lesson, we will delve into the formation and usage of conditional sentences, providing you with a solid foundation to express your thoughts creatively.
Outline of the Lesson:
- Introduction to Conditional Sentences
- Structure of Conditional Sentences
- Types of Conditional Sentences
- Examples of Conditional Sentences
- Practice Exercises
- Conclusion
Introduction to Conditional Sentences
Conditional sentences in Armenian, much like in English, are made up of two clauses: the if-clause (the condition) and the main clause (the result). For instance, in English, you might say, "If it rains, I will stay home." The structure and nuances in Armenian, however, are a bit different, and this is what we will explore in detail.
In Armenian, conditional sentences generally follow a specific pattern: If + condition + then + result. The use of these sentences allows you to express a variety of situations, from realistic to imaginary. This versatility is what makes learning them so important for effective communication.
Structure of Conditional Sentences
In Armenian, the structure of conditional sentences is straightforward. They typically consist of two parts:
1. The Condition (If-clause): This states the hypothetical situation.
2. The Result (Main clause): This states what will happen if the condition is met.
Here’s a basic formula:
- If-clause: Եթե (Yete) + [condition]
- Main clause: [result]
For example:
- If it rains, I will stay home translates to Եթե անձրևը գա, ես կմնամ տանը (Yete andzrevy ga, yes kmnam t’ane).
Types of Conditional Sentences
Conditional sentences can be categorized based on the likelihood of the condition occurring. Let's break these down into three main types:
1. Zero Conditional: Used for universal truths or facts.
- Structure: If + present tense, present tense.
- Example: Եթե արևը դուրս գա, օրը լուսավոր կլինի (Yete arevy durs ga, ory lusavor klini) – "If the sun rises, the day will be bright."
2. First Conditional: Used for real and possible situations.
- Structure: If + present tense, will + base verb.
- Example: Եթե դու կարդաս, ես կգա (Yete du kardas, yes k’ga) – "If you read, I will come."
3. Second Conditional: Used for unreal or hypothetical situations.
- Structure: If + past tense, would + base verb.
- Example: Եթե ես հարուստ լինեի, ես կգնայի Եվրոպա (Yete yes harust lineyi, yes k’gnayi Yereva) – "If I were rich, I would go to Europe."
Examples of Conditional Sentences
Let’s look at some examples of conditional sentences in Armenian to better grasp their structure and usage.
| Armenian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Եթե անձրևը գա, ես կմնամ տանը | Yete andzrevy ga, yes kmnam t’ane | If it rains, I will stay home. |
| Եթե դու ուսանող ես, դու պետք է սովորես | Yete du usanogh yes, du petq e sovores | If you are a student, you need to study. |
| Եթե նա ուրախ է, ես նույնպես ուրախ եմ | Yete na urakh e, yes nvayb urakh em | If he is happy, I am happy too. |
| Եթե մենք միասին աշխատենք, մենք կհասնենք հաջողության | Yete men miatsin ashkhat’enk’, menk’ khahsanenk hajogutyan | If we work together, we will achieve success. |
| Եթե ես մոռացեմ, հիշեցրու ինձ | Yete yes morats’em, his’ets’ru indz | If I forget, remind me. |
| Եթե ես ճիշտ պատասխանեմ, նա ինձ կհավատի | Yete yes jisht pataskhanem, na indz khahavati | If I answer correctly, he will believe me. |
| Եթե դու չես եկել, մենք պետք է գնանք | Yete du ch’es yekel, menk’ petq e gnank’ | If you haven’t come, we should go. |
| Եթե նրանք ուշանում են, մենք պետք է սպասենք | Yete nrank’ ushanoom en, menk’ petq e spasenk’ | If they are late, we should wait. |
| Եթե նա ինձ զանգի, ես կպատասխանեմ | Yete na indz zangi, yes k’pataskhanem | If he calls me, I will answer. |
| Եթե դու չես լսել, ես կկրկնեմ | Yete du ch’es lsel, yes k’k’rn’em | If you didn’t hear, I will repeat. |
Practice Exercises
Now that we’ve explored the structure and examples, let's put your knowledge to the test with some practice exercises. Complete the sentences using the correct form of the conditional sentences.
1. If it snows, I will...
- Answer: Եթե ձյուն ընկնի, ես... (Yete zyun ynk’ni, yes...)
2. If I were you, I would...
- Answer: Եթե ես քեզ լինեի, ես... (Yete yes k’yez lineyi, yes...)
3. If you study hard, you will...
- Answer: Եթե դու շատ սովորես, դու... (Yete du shat sovores, du...)
4. If he sees you, he will...
- Answer: Եթե նա քեզ տեսնի, նա... (Yete na k’ez tesni, na...)
5. If I had time, I would...
- Answer: Եթե ես ժամանակ ունենայի, ես... (Yete yes zhamanak unena, yes...)
6. If they finish early, they will...
- Answer: Եթե նրանք շուտ ավարտեն, նրանք... (Yete nrank’ shut avarten, nrank’...)
7. If we had a car, we would...
- Answer: Եթե մենք ավտոմեքենա ունենայինք, մենք... (Yete menk’ avtomikena unena, menk’...)
8. If you come, I will...
- Answer: Եթե դու գաս, ես... (Yete du gas, yes...)
9. If she calls, I will...
- Answer: Եթե նա զանգի, ես... (Yete na zangi, yes...)
10. If it were sunny, we would...
- Answer: Եթե արև է, մենք... (Yete arev e, menk’...)
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering conditional sentences is a significant step in your journey to learning Armenian. They are not only fundamental for expressing possibilities and hypothetical situations but also enrich your communication. Practice these structures regularly, and soon you'll find yourself using them with ease in conversations.
As you continue your study of Armenian, remember that practice makes perfect. Don’t hesitate to try forming your own conditional sentences, and share them with your classmates or teacher for feedback. Happy learning!
Sources
Other Lessons
- Imperative Mood
- Future Indicative Tense
- The Future Perfect Tense
- Adjective Endings
- The Instrumental Case
- The Past Perfect Tense
- Negation
- present simple and present continuous
- The Present Perfect Tense
- Definite Pronouns