Phrase · 😔 Regrets and reproaches
Si lo hubiera sabido, te habría avisado.
If I'd known, I would have told you.
B2regretting reproachingAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Si1conjunctioniflo2object pronounitél · 3rd sing. · direct objecthubiera1verbhadhaber · subjunctive · imperfect · 1st sing.sabido1verbknownsaber · participle · past · masc. · sing.,teobject pronounyoutú · 2nd sing. · direct objecthabría3verbwould havehaber · conditional · 1st sing.avisado3verbtold, warnedavisar · participle · past · masc. · sing..
- Si → hubiera: mood
- hubiera → habría: corr
- sabido → lo: obj
- avisado → te: obj
Word for word: “If I had known it, I would have warned you.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Si + pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera sabido): a past condition that never happened. Never ✗ si habría sabido. Past unreal conditions: pluperfect subjunctive and conditional perfect →
- 2lo stands for the whole fact (neuter it). Spanish needs it here; English and Portuguese usually leave it out. Direct object pronouns and personal a →
- 3Conditional perfect (habría avisado): the result that didn’t happen. Te hubiera avisado is also correct. Past unreal conditions: pluperfect subjunctive and conditional perfect →
Variations
- Si lo hubiese sabido, te habría avisado.
- Si lo hubiera sabido, te hubiera avisado.
- Te habría avisado si lo hubiera sabido.