Phrase · 💭 Hypotheses in every register
Si lo sé, no vengo.
If I'd known, I wouldn't have come.
C2regret (colloquial joke)colloquiales-ESAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Si1conjunctioniflo3object pronounitél · 3rd sing. · direct objectsé1verbI'd known (lit. I know)saber · present · 1st sing.,noadverbnotvengo2verbI wouldn't have come (lit. I come)venir · present · 1st sing..
- Si → sé: si + present: here a past counterfactual
- lo → sé: lo: what I now know
- no → vengo: no vengo = no habría venido
Word for word: “If I know it, I don't come.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Colloquial counterfactual: the present in both clauses for a past regret. Si lo sé, no vengo = had I known, I wouldn't have come. The extended conditional system: de + infinitive, hubiera and colloquial patterns →
- 2Typical of Spain, said on arrival and half joking. Standard: si lo hubiera sabido, no habría venido. The extended conditional system: de + infinitive, hubiera and colloquial patterns →
- 3lo stands for the situation found on arrival. sé (from saber) has an accent, unlike se.
Variations
- Si lo llego a saber, no vengo.
- Si lo hubiera sabido, no habría venido.
- De haberlo sabido, no vengo.