Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Miraría mi reflejo en el espejo si no estuviera tan empañado. - I would look at my reflection in the mirror if it were not so foggy.

Miraría is the first-person singular of the conditional tense, equivalent to “I would look.” It expresses what you would do under a hypothetical circumstance. A simple past (e.g. miré) would state a completed action, and a future (e.g. miraré) a planned one—neither fits this “if-then” scenario.

Why is estuviera used after si instead of estaría or estuvo?

In Spanish, unreal or hypothetical conditions in the present/future use the imperfect subjunctive in the si-clause (here estuviera) and the conditional in the main clause (miraría). You don’t use the conditional (estaría) or the preterite (estuvo) after si in this type of sentence.

What does tan do in tan empañado?

Tan means “so” or “very,” intensifying the adjective that follows. Tan empañado translates as “so fogged up” or “so steamy.”

Could I say si no estuviese tan empañado instead of si no estuviera tan empañado?

Yes. Estuviese is an alternative form of the imperfect subjunctive with identical meaning. In Latin America, estuviera is more common, but both are correct.

Why is estar used here (as in estuviera) rather than ser?

Spanish uses estar for temporary states or conditions (like being foggy), and ser for inherent or permanent qualities. A steamy mirror is a temporary condition, so estar is appropriate.

Why say mi reflejo en el espejo instead of me miraría en el espejo?

Both convey a similar idea, but miraría mi reflejo focuses on the reflection as the direct object of your gaze. Me miraría emphasizes the act of looking at yourself. It’s a subtle stylistic difference.

Is mi in mi reflejo necessary?

Not strictly—reflejo often implies “one’s own reflection.” However, adding mi clarifies whose reflection it is and avoids ambiguity in context.

Why is there no yo before miraría?

Subject pronouns in Spanish are usually omitted because the verb ending already indicates the subject. You could say Yo miraría, but it’s redundant unless you want extra emphasis on “I.”

What kind of conditional sentence is this?

This is a Type II (hypothetical/unreal) conditional: an if-clause with the imperfect subjunctive (si no estuviera) and a main clause in the conditional simple (miraría). It describes an unlikely or imaginary present/future situation.

How would you translate the full sentence into English?

“I would look at my reflection in the mirror if it weren’t so fogged up.”