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How to Say "would happen" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pasaría

verbB1general
Use 'pasaría' when discussing a hypothetical event or its consequence, often in the third person singular (él/ella/usted) for 'what would happen'.

Examples

Si tuviera más tiempo, ¿qué pasaría?

If I had more time, what would happen?

pasara

/pah-SAH-rah//paˈsaɾa/

verbB1general
Use 'pasara' to express a conditional result, typically in subordinate clauses introduced by 'si' (if), indicating what would occur if a certain condition were met.
A tiny seed on the ground instantly sprouting into a large, vibrant, blooming flower, illustrating a hypothetical event.

Examples

Si pasara algo urgente, te llamaría de inmediato.

If something urgent were to happen, I would call you immediately.

No creían que eso pasara nunca en su ciudad.

They didn't believe that that would ever happen in their city.

The 'Imperfect Subjunctive' Tense

This form ('pasara') is used when talking about past wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations that were unlikely or impossible. Think of it as 'would' or 'were to' in English.

Conditional Sentences

When you set up a hypothetical condition starting with 'Si' (If), the verb in the 'If' part often needs this special form: 'Si pasara esto, haríamos aquello' (If this happened, we would do that).

Mixing Up Tenses in 'If' Clauses

Mistake: “Using the future tense after 'Si': 'Si pasará mañana, te aviso.'”

Correction: The correct pattern for future hypotheticals is 'Si pasa mañana, te aviso' (using the present indicative). Reserve 'pasara' for less likely or past hypothetical events.

Choosing between 'pasara' and 'pasaría'

Learners often confuse 'pasara' and 'pasaría' when translating 'would happen'. Remember that 'pasaría' is typically used for the main clause describing the hypothetical outcome, while 'pasara' often appears in the 'if' clause describing the condition itself.

Related Translations

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