ABSTRACT
Conditional sentences The conditional particles are ?ida(a), lo(o), (?in)čaant (?i) leen, ?in} ?illi. These are
all equally frequent in daily speech. ?ida(a) in the protasis, is used with:
(a) the imperfect tense, as: ?ida(a) bitruuh is-suug baji wiyyaak (if you are going to the market I'II come with you) ?ida(a) b-taakluun, bininčib il-caše (if you feel like eating, we will serve the supper)
(b) the perfect tense, as: ?ida(a)jict,kill (if you feel hungry, (go ahead) eat) ?ida(a) t cibt, naam (if you are tired, go to sleep)
(c) participials and adjectives, as : ?ida(a) mant ta cbaant guum saa cidne (if you are not tired, come give us a hand) ?ida ntiin mašguule, maani maarra (if you are busy, I shan't call)
(e) in proverbial expressions the condition is implied without the explicit use of a conditional particle as in:
?idrub il-čalbt yit?addab il-?asad (chastise the dog, and the lion will behave)
A more explicit form of the aobve is: ?ida darabt il-čalb, it?addab il-?asad. lo(o) in the protasis appears with: (a) the imperfect tense as in :
(b) the perfect tense as in : lo(o) šara l-la caam, čaan dafa cagall (if he had bought last year, he would have paid less) lo(o) čdaras aan najah
(if he had studied, he would have passed) (c) active participles as in :
lo(o) laabis čaan axadnaak wiyyaanne (if you were dressed, we would have taken you with us) lo(o) mgafdiin yoomeen, čaan waajid it cattalne (if they had remained closed for two days, we would have had a lot of delay)
(d) nominal constructions such as: lo(o) huu hni(i), čaan saa cadne (if he were here, he would help us)
or in this proverbial expression, lo(o) fiih xeer, maa ramaah it-teer (if it were worthy, the bird wouldn't have discarded it)
(?in) čaan in the protasis appears with: (a) the imperfect as in:
(?in) čaan ti cruf, di raawne (if you know, then show us)
(b) the perfect as in: (?in) čaan xallas min idruuse, xalle yitla c (if he has finished (revising) his lessons, let him go)
(c) the future as in: (?in) čaan bitruuh, baji wiyyaak (if you are going, I'll come with you)
(d) nominal constructions as in: (?in) čaan is-sayyaara şaahye, bawaddiikum (if the car is in order, I shall take you)
leen carrast, bitgiib awlaad (when you get married, you will have children)
(b) the perfect (in the protasis) + the imperative (in the apodosis): leen baġeet, xid (if you felt like having (some), do (take some) leen ihtijt, guul liyyi (when you need (some), let me know)
Note that the perfect forms above have a future meaning. (c) the negative imperf. (in the protasis) + neg. imperf. (in the apodosis)
leen maa bittaawu c, maa bithassil (if you don't obey, you won 't get)
The conditional particle 7in (if, whether) is found in the protasis, mainly with the perfect. Cf: perfect:
?in gadarne, marreene caleekum (if we are able, we shall drop by) ?in šiftuk haafi, baštaki caleek cind abuuk (if I find you barefooted, I shall complain you to your father)
Again, note in the apodosis above, the verb is in the imperative. The relative pronoun ?illi (who, which) is commonly used as a conditional particle. It is found in the protasis with imperfects as well as adverbials. Cf :
imperf. (protasis): ?illi yidris, yinjah (he who studies, passes (the examination ) )
adverbials (protasis): ?illi fi l-igdur, ital ca l-millaas (the scoop can reveal what the pan conceals)
And less frequently with nominals in the protasis as in this proverbial expression: ?illi beete min kazaaz, maa yfallic ihjaara (those who live in glass houses should not throw stones)
yaa, besides functioning as a vocative particle, is used to mean "either. . . or" in condi tional contexts. It is found with: (a) nominals in the protasis and apodosis:
(b) imperfects : yaa tji wlyyaanne, yaa tig cid fi I-beet (either you come with us, or else sit at home)
Note that yaa, as used in conditional contexts, is not found with the perfect.
