WHAT IS THE POSTPRETERITE? (WITH EXAMPLES) - LITERATURE - 2025

The post- past or simple conditional is a tense that expresses a future action considered from the past, and can also express nuances of probability or possibility.

Thus, this conditional does not always express prior. In fact, its time value is relative. This can refer to the past, present or future, depending on the mode of use.

Some authors consider that the postpreterite belongs to the conditional or potential mode. That is, it is independent of the three generally established modes: indicative, subjunctive or imperative.

However, other authors classify it, either within the indicative mood, or within the subjunctive.

Postpreterite uses with examples

Indicate a future action in the past

The post-past is used to indicate an action that is performed later after another action. Note this usage in the following examples (italics will be used to indicate the verb in post-pasture):

- You would start designing your project as soon as the semester ended.

-After the boss announced the winners of the contest, he would present his irrevocable resignation.

-Only after washing their hands, would they start eating.

Manifest a calculation about a past or future action, or the possibility of the action

The post-past may express probability, conjecture, or speculation in the past. In the sentences that are presented below, you can see these uses:

-It would be like ten in the morning when the clerk began to dispatch the merchandise.

- For the people to trust his promises again, it would be enough for him to publicly apologize.

-Your pet would chase anyone who came within two meters.

Express the consequence of conditional sentences

In conditional sentences, the verb tense of the conclusion is the post-past tense. These types of sentences are recognized by the conjunctive link si. For example:

-If I could put into words all the pain I feel, I would.

- I'd change all that, if I could.

-If you really wanted to quit that bad habit, you wouldn't go to that store.

Ask or exhort politely

The use of the post-past tense softens requests or exhortations. It is very common to use the verbs power, duty and like, among others. Some examples of this are presented below:

-Could you do me the favor of lifting that?

- You should take action on the matter immediately

-I would like you not to discard each of my ideas without even thinking about it.

-Would you take out the trash before you go?

Manifest concession

The following sentences illustrate how the postpreterite serves to express concession:

-He would be a very polite person, but at that moment he did not show it.

-I would be used to that kind of environment; however, she was feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

"She would think I had lost my mind, but I did anyway."

Report a verb in the future indirectly

When a verb (indirect style) that was originally in the future is reported, the postpreterite is used. Notice the change in the sentences below:

-He says the flight will leave at eleven.

-He said the flight would leave at eleven.

-The company insists that it will not reveal the names of those involved

-The company insisted that it would not reveal the names of those involved

References

1. Spanish without borders. (s / f). The simple conditional. Retrieved on January 11, 2018, from espanolsinfronteras.com.
2. Diez de la Cortina Montemayor, S. (2012). Keys for the use of the Spanish verbal system. Madrid: Editorial Manuscritos.
3. Rodríguez Guzmán, JP (2005). Graphic grammar to the juampedrino mode. Barcelona: Carena Editions.
4. Alecoy, TJ (2015). English from the base for all Spanish Speakers, Inglés para Hispanohablantes. Santiago de Chile: Alecoy.
5. Dictionary of the Spanish of Mexico (DEM). (s / f). Use of tenses. El Colegio de México, AC Retrieved on January 11, 2018, from dem.colmex.mx.
6. Martinez, CA (2008). Mi Espanol: Resource book for teachers and students of the Spanish language. Bloomington: AuthorHouse.