Conditionals
⭕ Formation of the conditional mood
The conditional mood in Tatar is formed by adding the suffix -sa or -sə to the verb stem. The personal endings are then attached to this suffix.
min uqısam / kilsəm
sin uqısañ / kilsəñ
ul uqısa / kilsə
bez uqısaq / kilsək
sez uqısağız / kilsəgez
alar uqısalar / kilsələr
Time reference
The conditional mood can refer to the present, past, or future, depending on the context and the tense of the main clause. Time can be further specified using compound forms with the verb bulu (to be) in the conditional clause.
Although the suffix -sa or -sə already indicates a conditional mood, it is common to use additional markers such as əgər, əgər də (meaning "if" or "in case") at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.
⭕ Real conditional
This type of conditional implies nothing about the truth or falsity of the condition. It can refer to the present, past, or future. The conclusion may be in any form that the sense allows.
The simple form in -sa, -sə:
Xəzer şularnı uylasam, üzemneñ tüzüwemə ğəcəplənəm. (Ğadel Qutuy, “Tapşırılmağan xatlar”)
If I think about those things now, I am amazed at my patience.
There are also compound forms like -ğan, -gən bulsa, -a, -ə torğan bulsa, -r/-mas bulsa, -açaq, -əçək bulsa, and -ası, -əse bulsa.
Bu yalğan, Cəğfər, əgər siña ber-ber nərsə söyləgən bulsalar, ışanma, – dide. (Ğabdraxman Əpsələmov, “Yəşel Yar”)
“This is a lie, Cəğfər. If they have told you something, don’t believe (them),” she said.
⭕ Potential conditional
⭕ Potential conditional
The potential conditional refers to the future. It implies that the supposed case has the potential for future realization. It may be expressed by the simple form in -sa, -sə and by the compounds -ğan, -gən bulsa, etc. and -ası, -əse, -ıysı, -ise bulsa. The predicate of the consequence clause is most frequently a verb in the future tense I stem -r/-ır/-er followed by idem, ideñ, etc.
Bu süzlərne cıyılışta söyləsəñ, ixtimal, kem bulsa da qolaq salır yəki qul çabar ide. (Ğabdraxman Əpsələmov, "Yəşel Yar")
If you say these words at a meeting, it’s possible that someone might listen or applaud.
⭕ Unreal conditional
Unreal conditional implies that the condition is not or was not true. It can refer to the present or past and is often used to discuss hypothetical situations. The predicate of the consequence clause may be a verb in -r/-mas, or -açaq, followed by ide, or it may be expressed by the forms:
-ğan bulır ide
-a ide
-ğan bula ide
-ası bulğanmın
-ası bulmas ide, etc.
The simple form in -sa, -sə:
Əgər barır yulnı belsə, adresın xəterləsə, ike də uylap tormas, küptən yulğa çıqqan bulır ide. (Rinat Möxəmmədiev, “Açıq tərəzə”)
If he had known the way to go, if he had remembered her address, he would not have thought twice, he would have been on his way long ago.
The are also compound forms like -ğan, -gən bulsa, -a, -ə torğan bulsa, -ası, -əse bulsa
Elegrək xat yazıp sorağan bulsañ, min ul kitapnı siña poçta belən də cibərgən bulır idem. (Gölsem Möxəmmədova, “Sikəltəle turı yul”)
If you had written and asked for it earlier, I would have sent you that book by mail.