I. Structures expressing the hypothesis in the present

The hypothesis can be expressed by using verbal structures such as :

* PUEDE QUE + Subjunctive
* ES POSIBLE QUE + Subjunctive
* PUEDE SER QUE + Subjunctive
* A LO MEJOR + INDICATIVE

These phrases can be translated into English as “Perhaps…” or “It is possible that…”

Examples :

• – Es posible que este enfermo ==> It is possible that he is ill.
• – Puede que no me haya escuchado ==> It is possible that he did not listen to me.
• – Puede ser que tu padre haya salido un rato ==> It is possible that your father went out for a while.
• – A lo mejor está cansado ==> Maybe he is tired.

II. Locutions and adverbs

The hypothesis can also be expressed with an adverb or a phrase such as: Acaso, quizá(s), or tal vez.
CAUTION: If the adverb is placed before the verb, the latter is conjugated in the subjunctive. If it is placed after the verb, the indicative is used.

Example :

– Quizás tenga vergüenza ==> Perhaps he is ashamed.
==> Quizás is placed before the verb, the subjunctive is used

– Tiene quizás vergüenza ==> Perhaps he is ashamed.
==> Quizás is placed after the verb, the indicative is used

III. Hypothesis with “si”

In Spanish, we can also express the hypothesis (and the condition) using a subordinate introduced by “si”.

ATTENTION to respect the concordance of the tenses:
==> If the structure SI + present indicative is used in the subordinate, the verb of the main subject will be in the present or future indicative.

• Si viene, le recibiremos ==> If he comes, we will receive him.

==> If the structure SI + imperfect indicative is used in the subordinate, the verb of the main sentence will be in the present conditional.

• Si pensaba en mi futuro, me sentía optimista ==> If I thought about the future, I felt optimistic.

==> If we use SI + past perfect in the subordinate, the verb of the main text will be in the past conditional.

• Si hubiera venido, le habríamos recibido ==> If he had come, we would have received him.

IV. Use of the future tense to express the hypothesis

Use of the future tense to express the hypothesis

Examples :

• Maria ha sido recibida en la mejor escuela de arte, estará contenta ==> Maria got into the best art school, she must be happy. (Hypothesis in the present tense)
• Nos llegaron todavía, ¿ Que habrá sucedido ? ==> They haven’t arrived yet, what could have happened? (Hypothesis in the present tense)
• Está cansado hoy, habrá tenido un fin de semana agitado ==> He’s tired today, he must have had an eventful weekend. (Hypothesis in the past)
• No vino a la cita, estará ocupado con otra cosa ==> He didn’t come to the appointment, he must have been busy with something else. (Hypothesis in the past tense).

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