Si Clauses
Condicionales con si
Real conditions (si + presente) vs hypotheticals (si + imperfecto de subjuntivo + condicional).
The rule
Spanish si clauses come in two everyday shapes. REAL (likely) conditions: si + PRESENTE in the if-half, and future, present or an imperative in the result: 'Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa', 'Si duerme bien, mañana estará de buen humor', 'Si llegas antes, avisame'. HYPOTHETICAL (unlikely or contrary to fact): si + IMPERFECTO DE SUBJUNTIVO, result in CONDICIONAL: 'Si tuviera más tiempo, estudiaría más', 'Si fuera vos, lo llevaría al médico'.
The iron rules: after si you NEVER use the future ('si lloverá' is impossible, say 'si llueve') and NEVER the conditional ('si tendría' is a well-known error, say 'si tuviera'). Also worth having: 'como si' always takes the imperfect subjunctive ('Habla como si supiera todo'), and the set phrase 'si fuera tú / yo que tú' for giving advice.
Examples
Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa.
If it rains, we'll stay home. (real: si + presente)
Si duerme la siesta, después está de mejor humor.
If he naps, he's in a better mood afterwards. (general truth: presente + presente)
Si tuviéramos jardín, pasaríamos más tiempo afuera.
If we had a garden, we'd spend more time outside. (hypothetical: imperf. subj. + conditional)
Si fuera tú, hablaría con la pediatra.
If I were you, I'd talk to the paediatrician. (advice frame)
Gasta como si fuera millonario.
He spends as if he were a millionaire. (como si + imperfect subjunctive, always)
Try it yourself
Three quick questions, straight from the app. No sign-up needed.
Si ___ mañana, no vamos a la plaza.
If it rains tomorrow, we're not going to the square.
All 12 Si Clauses questions, free in Hablaba
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