Javier Díez
Problems using a conditional I would like to know how to say to somebody that if he or she prefer something I "would" do it. I don´t know if in the second clause I have to use "would", "could" or "can". For example in spanish: "Si lo prefieres podríamos ir al cine"
Feb 10, 2016 5:33 PM
Answers · 5
1
You'd probably use either a zero conditional: 'If you prefer, we can go to the cinema.' or a mixed conditional: 'If you prefer, we could go to the cinema.' The meaning is the same, but the second is more tentative.
February 10, 2016
The meanings are very similar in English and Spanish: iría = would go ; podría ir = could go ; puede ir = can go. Your sentence, translated literally, would be: "Si lo prefieres podríamos ir al cine" = If you prefer, we could go to the movies, which would make perfect sense in English.
February 18, 2016
A more colloquial way to say it (in America) : If you'd like, we can go to the movies./ If you want to go to the movies, we can.
February 10, 2016
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