Question 1

Why does the 'si' part use the imperfect tense (avions) instead of the conditional?

Accepted Answer

In French second conditional sentences (hypotheticals about the present or future), the verb immediately following si (if) must be in the imperfect tense (l'imparfait), while the result clause uses the conditional. You can never put the conditional right after si. So, we use nous avions (we had) to set up the hypothetical situation.

Question 2

How is the conditional verb habiterions formed here?

Accepted Answer

For regular -er verbs like habiter, you form the conditional by taking the full infinitive (habiter) and adding the imperfect endings. For nous, the ending is -ions, giving us habiterions (we would live).

Question 3

What is the y doing in the second half of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

The pronoun y translates to 'there' or 'in it'. It replaces a location previously mentioned or implied (in this case, the base in the galaxy). Remember that in French, this pronoun goes immediately before the verb it modifies: nous y habiterions (literally: we there would live).

Question 4

Is there a liaison between nous and y?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Because nous ends in an 's' and y acts as a vowel here, you must make a liaison. It will sound like a 'z', so nous y sounds like 'noo-zee'.

Si nous avions une base dans la galaxie, nous y habiterions.

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