1 2 3 ….
A B C D
Já BYCH SE bál.
Bál BYCH SE.
Ty BYS HO nepoznal.
Nepoznal BYS HO.
On BY SE smál.
Smál BY SE.
Ona BY TO neĜekla.
NeĜekla BY TO.
My BYCHOM TAM šli.
Šli BYCHOM TAM.
Kdy BYSTE SE NA TO podívali?
Podívali BYSTE SE NA TO ?
Oni BY Tċ chtČli vidČt.
ChtČli BY Tċ vidČt.
Já BYCH SE TAM vrátila.
Vrátila BYCH SE TAM.
Translation of the above mentioned sentences: Já bych se bál.
Bál bych se.
}
I would be afraid. Ty bys ho nepoznal.Nepoznal bys ho.
}
You wouldn´t recognize him. On by se smál.Smál by se.
}
He would laugh. Ona by to neĜekla.NeĜekla by to.
}
She wouldn´t say that. My bychom tam šli.Šli bychom tam.
}
We would go there.Kdy byste se na to podívali? When would you have a look at it? Podívali byste se na to? Would you have a look at it?
Oni by tČ chtČli vidČt.
ChtČli by tČ vidČt.
}
They would like to see you. Já bych se tam vrátila.Vrátila bych se tam.
}
I would return there. (female speaker) Ɣ REFLEXIVE VERBS Conditional in 2nd person singular:The regularly expected combinations bys se, bys si are changed into BY SES, BY SIS. E.g.:
Ty by ses smál.
Smál by ses.
}
You would laugh.Co by sis pĜál? What would you wish?
Examples: INDICATIVE
CONDITIONAL
To je chyba. It´s a mistake
To by byla chyba. It would be a mistake.
Chcete nČco Ĝíct? Do you want to say anything?
ChtČl byste nČco Ĝíct? Would you like to say anything?
Moji kamarádi ti pomĤžou. My friends will help you.
NČkteĜí moji kamarádi by ti pomohli. Some of my friends would help you. Chceme to vČdČt. We want to know it.
ChtČli bychom to vČdČt. We would like to know it.
Jeho manželka to neudČlá. His wife will not do it.
Jeho manželka by to neudČlala. His wife wouldn´t do it.
Musíš pĜijít vþas. You must arrive in time.
Musel bys pĜijít vþas. You should have to arrive in time.
Jak se ta kniha jmenuje? What´s the name of the book?
Jak by se ta kniha jmenovala? What would be the name of the book?
Sejdeme se pĜed domem. We´ll meet in front of the house.
Zítra bychom se sešli pĜed domem. We´d meet in front of the house tomorrow.
Jedeme autem. We go by car.
Jeli bychom autem. We would go by car.
My tam nejdeme. We don´t go there.
My bychom tam nešli. We wouldn´t go there.
NČkteré firmy se toho nebojí. Some companies are not afraid of it.
NČkteré firmy by se toho nebály. Some companies wouldn´t be afraid of it.
To trvá moc dlouho It takes too much time.
To by trvalo moc dlouho. It would take too much time.
To je moc drahé. It´s too expensive.
To by bylo moc drahé. It would be too expensive
V kolik hodin se vrátíš? What time will you come back?
V kolik hodin by ses vrátil? What time would you come back?
Tamti studenti tČ neslyší. Those students can´t hear you.
Tamti studenti by tČ neslyšeli. Those students wouldn´t hear you.
MĤžu mu to Ĝíct? May I tell him that?
Mohl bych mu to Ĝíct? Could I tell him that?
Co si pĜejete? What do you wish?
Co byste si pĜál/pĜála/pĜáli? What would you wish?
Nikdo tomu nerozumí. Nobody understands it.
Nikdo by tomu nerozumČl. Nobody would understand it.
Jak se tam dostaneš? How will you get there?
Ɣ CONDITIONAL CLAUSES :
The Czech counterpart to the English conjunction if in conditional clauses is KDYBY
The conjunction KDYBY has a special feature – it has verbal inflection (= it is conjugated):
(já) KDYBYCH (my) KDYBYCHOM
(ty) KDYBYS (vy) KDYBYSTE
(on, ona, ono) KDYBY (oni, ony, ona) KDYBY
The conjunction is followed by past participle (in the same way as it is in English). Examples:
Kdybych mČl peníze, koupil bych si nové auto.
If I had money, I would buy a new car. (male speaker) Kdybych mČla þas, udČlala bych to hned.
If I had time, I would do it immediately. (female speaker)
Kdybys bydlel v Praze, vidČli bychom se každý den.
If you lived in P., we would see each other every day.
Kdyby byl doma, byla by otevĜená okna.
If he were at home, the windows would be open.
Kdybychom to vČdČli, tak bychom se neptali.
If we knew it, we wouldn´t ask.
Kdybyste byli tady, vidČli byste zajímavou vČc.
If you were here, you´d see an interesting thing.
Kdyby to hledali, našli by to.
If they were looking for it, they would find it.
In the above mentioned examples, the condition is “unreal“, both in Czech and in English the reality is:
Kdybych mČl peníze If I had money I don´t have money
Kdybych mČla þas … If I had time … I haven´t got any time.
Kdybys bydlel v Praze.. If you lived in P … You don´t live in Prague.
Kdyby byl doma … If he were at home … He isn´t at home.
Kdybychom to vČdČli … If we knew it … We don´t know it.
Kdybyste byli tady … If you were here … You are not here.
Ɣ The condition needn´t be absolutely unreal. It can often be a “hypothetical statement“: (The English translation may either be the conditional mood, or various other constructions, such as: In case … If you should … etc.)
Kdybych to neumČl pĜeložit, zeptám se tČ.
In case I can´t translate it, I´ll ask you.
Kdybys nČco potĜeboval, mĤžeš mi zavolat.
In case you need sth., you can ring me up.
Kdyby pršelo, vzal bych si deštník.
If it should rain, I´d take an umbrella.
Kdybychom zítra nemohli pĜijít, zavoláme vám.
If we can´t come tomorrow, we´ll ring you up.
Kdybyste nČþemu nerozumČli, mĤžete se mČ zeptat.
In case there is sth. you don´t understand, you can ask me.
Kdyby pĜišli ýapkovi, poproste je, aby na mČ poþkali.
If the ýapek family should come, ask them to wait for me.
Ɣ USEFUL CONSTRUCTIONS:
CHTċL(A) BYCH + Infinitive = RÁD(A) BYCH + Past Part.
I´d like to …
ChtČl(a) bych to vidČt. Rád(a) bych to vidČl(a).
I´d like to see it.
ChtČl(a) bych zĤstat tady. Rád(a) bych zĤstal(a) tady.
I´d like to stay here.
ChtČl(a) bych jít domĤ. Rád(a) bych šel/šla domĤ.
I´d like to go home.
ChtČli bychom mluvit s Markem. Rádi bych mluvili s Markem.
We´d like to talk to Mark.
ChtČli bychom se vás na nČco
zeptat. Rádi bychom se vás na nČco zeptali.
THE CONDITIONAL CONJUNCTION “JESTLI“, “JESTLIŽE“ Podmínková spojka JESTLI, JESTLIŽE
The Czech equivalent of the English conditional conjunction IF may be either the inflected conjunction KDYBY (see chapter 45, “Conditional“),
or JESTLI = JESTLIŽE
Ɣ The conjunction JESTLI = JESTLIŽE is used in “open conditions“ (usually connected with the indicative mood.)
Examples:
1 Jestli(že) máte s pĜístrojem nČjaké
problémy, poraćte se s výrobcem. If you have any problems with the device, consult the manufacturer.
2 Jestli(že) už nejsou žádné otázky, konþím svoji pĜednášku a dČkuji vám za
pozornost.
If there are no more questions, I finish my lecture and thank you for your attention.
3 Jestli(že) všechno pĤjde podle našich plánĤ, bude ta práce hotová pĜíští týden.
If everything goes according to our plans, the work will be finished next week.
4 Jestli(že) existuje nČjaké podezĜení,
obrátíme se na policii.. If there is any suspition, we´ll contact the police.
5 Jestli(že) si pĜejete další informace, rádi vás navštívíme.
If you wish any further information, we´ll be glad to visit you.
6 Jestli(že) se sejdou prezidenti, bude to užiteþné pro obČ zemČ.
If the presidents meet, it will be useful for the two countries.
7 Jestli(že) s nimi budete mluvit, mĤžete
jim laskavČ vyĜídit mĤj vzkaz. If you speek to them, you can kindly deliver my message to them.
8 Jestli(že) se najde nČjaké lepší Ĝešení, mĤžeme o tom diskutovat.
If a better solution is found, we can discuss it.
9 Jestli(že) jste dostal náš mail, je vám zĜejmČ situace jasná.
If you have received our e-mail, the situation is obviously clear to you.
10 Jestli(že) se vám to hodí, mĤžeme se
setkat zítra v devČt u mČ. If it suits you, we can meet at my place tomorrow at five.
There is no semantic difference between the two forms. Stylistically, the conjunction JESTLIŽE is usually felt more formal than JESTLI.