Hypotheses: si tuviera, iría
Real conditions with si + present; imaginary ones with si + imperfect subjunctive and the conditional.
Part of the free B2 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.
A conditional sentence has two halves: the condition (the si clause, "if …") and the result (what happens then). Spanish chooses the tenses according to how real the condition is. Remember that si without an accent means if; sí with an accent means yes.
1. Real or likely conditions: si + present
If the condition may well happen, use si + present indicative. The result is in the present, the future or a command.
- Si tengo tiempo, te llamo esta noche.If I have time, I'll call you tonight.
- Si llueve mañana, cancelaremos la excursión.If it rains tomorrow, we'll cancel the trip.
Never put the present subjunctive after si meaning if: si tenga tiempo.
2. Imaginary or unlikely conditions: si + imperfect subjunctive → conditional
For something that is not true now, or that you see as unlikely, use si + imperfect subjunctive (The imperfect subjunctive: -ra and -se forms) in the condition and the conditional (The conditional: politeness, advice, hypotheses) in the result.
- Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por toda Sudamérica.If I had more money, I'd travel all over South America.
- Si el alquiler no fuese tan caro, viviríamos en el centro.If the rent weren't so expensive, we'd live in the centre.
- Si me lo pidieras, te ayudaría encantada.If you asked me, I'd be happy to help you.
- ¿Qué harías si te tocara la lotería?What would you do if you won the lottery?
| Condition | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| si + present | present, future, command | real, possible |
| si + imperfect subjunctive | conditional | imaginary now, or unlikely in the future |
| si + pluperfect subjunctive | conditional perfect | imaginary in the past: Past hypotheses: si hubiera sabido, habría venido |
The two halves can come in either order. When the si clause comes first, put a comma after it.
- Yo no diría eso si estuviera en tu lugar.I wouldn't say that if I were in your position.
Giving advice: if I were you
Spanish says si yo fuera tú (literally "if I were you"), or the very common colloquial yo que tú or yo en tu lugar + conditional.
- Si fuera tú, aceptaría la oferta.If I were you, I'd accept the offer.
The -ra form in the result
With most verbs the result must be a conditional (iría, not fuera). Only with querer, poder and deber is -ra also used in the result: Si quisieras, pudieras hacerlo is possible, though podrías is far more common. Stick to the conditional.
Latin America
The structure is the same everywhere. In some areas (for example the Basque Country and neighbouring parts of northern Spain, and parts of the Río de la Plata region) you may hear the conditional after si, si tendría tiempo; this is considered non-standard. Use the imperfect subjunctive.
Common mistakes
Si tendría dinero, viajaría: no conditional after si. Say Si tuviera dinero, viajaría.Si tenga tiempo, te llamo: no present subjunctive after si. Say Si tengo tiempo, te llamo.Si tuviera dinero, viajaré: an imaginary condition takes a conditional result: viajaría.- Confusing si (if) and sí (yes): Si quieres, sí = If you want, yes.
Practice
- Si _____ más paciencia, mi hijo aprendería a nadar antes.Options: tuviera · tendría · tengo · tenga
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tuviera — Imaginary condition (I don't have it): si + imperfect subjunctive. Never the conditional or the present subjunctive after si.
- Si mi jefe me _____ (ofrecer) un puesto en Londres, lo aceptaría sin dudar.
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ofreciera
- Si el Gobierno bajara los impuestos, la gente _____ (consumir) más.
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consumiría — Si + imperfect subjunctive → conditional in the result.
- Si mañana _____ sol, comemos en la terraza.Options: hace · haga · hiciera · haría
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hace — A real, likely condition: si + present indicative. Never the present subjunctive after si.