Breakdown of Este aparato sería muy rentable si lo fabricáramos.
ser
to be
muy
very
lo
it / him (m)
este
this (m.sg., also esta, estos, estas, esto)
si
if
fabricar
to manufacture
rentable
profitable
el aparato
the device
Questions & Answers about Este aparato sería muy rentable si lo fabricáramos.
Why is fabricáramos in the subjunctive, but sería is not?
In Spanish hypothetical sentences (the second conditional), the verb right after si (if) takes the imperfect subjunctive because it sets up an unreal or imaginary situation. The other half of the sentence, which describes the result (what would happen), uses the conditional tense (sería).
Why does fabricáramos have an accent mark?
The nosotros (we) form of the imperfect subjunctive always requires a written accent on the vowel immediately before the -ramos or -semos ending. This ensures the spoken stress stays on the correct syllable.
Could I use the other imperfect subjunctive ending here and say fabricásemos?
Yes, you can absolutely say si lo fabricásemos. The imperfect subjunctive has two interchangeable sets of endings: -ra and -se. Both are perfectly correct and well understood in Spain, though the -ra form is used a bit more often.
Why do we use a form of ser (sería) instead of estar with the word rentable?
We use ser because being profitable (rentable) is treated as an inherent characteristic or a defining quality of this product, rather than a temporary state.
Learn Este aparato sería muy rentable si lo fabricáramos and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free