en_tm/translate/figs-hypo/01.md

### Description

A contrafactual conditional is a sentence that has a conditional clause that is false, or contrary to fact. Conditional clauses normally have the word "if." 

People sometimes tell about conditions and what would happen as a result of those conditions being met, but they know that these conditions are not met, so the results also do not happen. (The conditions are the phrase that start with "if.")

In the sentences below, the first clause with "if" is the contrafactual condition. The second is clause tells what the result would be if the condition were met. But since the condition is not met, the expected result does not happen.

* If he had known about the party, he would have come to it. (But he did not come.)
* If he knew about the party, he would be here. (But he is not here.)
* If he knew about the party, he would come to it. (But he probably will not come.)

Contrafactual conditions can be used to express regret about things that are not as desired. 

* If only he had come.
* If only he were here.
* If only he would come.

### Reasons this is a translation issue

* Translators need to recognize contrafactual conditions in the Bible.
* Translators need to know their own language's ways of expressing contrafactual conditions.

### Examples from the Bible

##### Contrafactual conditions with their results

>"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! <u>If the mighty deeds had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.</u>" (Matthew 11:21 ULB)

Here in Matthew 11:21 Jesus said that if the people living in the ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon had been able to see the miracles that he performed, they would have repented long ago. The people of Tyre and Sidon did not actually see his miracles and repent. He said this to rebuke the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida who had seen his miracles yet did not repent.

>Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, <u>if you had been here, my brother would not have died.</u>" (John 11:21 ULB)

Martha said this to express her wish that Jesus had come sooner. But Jesus had not come sooner, and her brother died.

><u>Unless those days are shortened, no flesh would be saved;</u> but for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:22 ULB)

Jesus was talking about a future time when very bad things would happen. He told what would happen if those days of trouble were to last a long time. He did this to show how bad those days will be - so bad that if they lasted a long time, no one would be saved. But then he clarified that God will shorten those days of trouble, so that the elect (those he has chosen) will be saved.

##### Contrafactual conditions used for expressing regret

Contrafactual conditions can be used for regrets or wishes about things that cannot be as peopel hoped. 

>The Israelites said to them, "<u>If only we had died by Yahweh's hand in the land of Egypt when we were sitting by the pots of meat and were eating bread to the full.</u> For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill our whole community with hunger." (Exodus 16:3 ULB)

Here the Israelites were afraid they would have to suffer and die of hunger in the wilderness, and so they wished that they had stayed in Egypt and died there with full stomachs. They were complaining, expressing regret that this had not happened.

><u>Oh, if only I had wings like a dove!</u> Then would I fly away and be at rest. (Psalm 55:6 ULB)

David was afraid of his enemies and wished that had wings and could fly. But he could not.

### Translation Principles

Know how people speaking your language show:

* that something could have happened, but did not.
* that something could be true now, but is not.
* that something could happen in the future, but will not unless something changes.
* that they wish for something that they know will not happen.
* that they regret that something did not happen.

Use your language's ways of showing these kinds of things.