Spanish Si Clauses: Conditional Sentences

With this post you will learn about how to form, the use and the types of the Spanish si (if) clauses.

In addition, there are plenty of examples with audios to help you better understand the concepts and to practice your listening skills.

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CONTENTS

Spanish Si Clauses

The si clauses, also known as conditional sentences or conditionals, express a condition that needs to be met so something else occurs.

How to Form the Spanish Conditionals?

The si clauses consist of two parts:

A si clause that expresses a condition.
A main clause which tells us what will happen if the condition is met.

The order of the sentences is unimportant. Thus, the si clause can go before or after the main clause. If the main clause precedes the si clause, you don´t need the comma.

However, remember that si belongs to the clause that expresses the condition.

EXAMPLES

Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría más. → If I had time, I would travel more.
Viajaría más si tuviera tiempo. → I would travel more if I had time.

When do I Use Subjunctive with a Si Clause in Spanish?

This is a common question students of Spanish as a second language have.

Knowing what verb tense to use in each type of si clauses can be hard. Consequently, you end up mixing up the tenses.

Here is a tip:

Si is followed by present indicative when the possibility of the condition is likely or real.
Si is followed by subjunctive when the condition is unlikely, impossible or unreal.

Types of Spanish Si Clauses

We can classify the si clauses in three types according on how likely the condition is:

Type 1: Possible/real conditions.
Type2: Unlikely conditions.
Type 3: Impossible/unreal conditions.

TYPE 1: POSSIBLE/REAL CONDITIONS

Si Clause	Main Clause	Uses
Present Indicative	Present Indicative	Universal truth Situations that happen normally Situations that are likely to happen
Present Indicative	Future	Events that will happen in the future
Present Indicative	Imperative	For requests or orders

EXAMPLES

Si llueve, te mojas. → If it rains, you get wet.
Si hace frío, te pones el abrigo. → If it´s cold, you put on your coat.
Si hace frío, te pondrás el abrigo. → If it´s cold, you will put on your coat.
Si tienes frío, ponte el abrigo → If it´s cold, put on your coat.

Where to Practice the Type 1 Conditional

Gap Fill Exercises

The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice – Exercises K from chapter 12 (page 153).
Conditional sentences type 1
Conditionals type 1

TYPE 2: UNLIKELY CONDITIONS

Si Clause	Main Clause	Uses
Imperfect subjunctive	Simple Conditional	Unlikely conditions in the present/future
Imperfect subjunctive	Imperfect	Unlikely conditions in the present/future Spoken Spanish

EXAMPLES

Si ganara/ganase la lotería, me compraría una mansión. → If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion.
Si me tocara/tocase la lotería, me compraba un coche. → If I won the lottery, I would buy a car.

Where to Practice the Type 2 Conditional

Written Practice

The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice – Exercise U from chapter 12 (page 157).

Gap Fill Exercises

The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice – Exercises L, M and N from chapter 12 (pages 153-154).
Conditional sentences type 2
Conditionals type 2
Imperfect subjunctive + conditional
If Clauses With the Conditional
Subordinate clauses: conditions
Conditionals type 1 and 2
Spanish if clauses: Imperfect subjunctive + Conditional – Intermediate: 1, 2 and 3.

TYPE 3: IMPOSSIBLE/UNREAL CONDITIONS

Si Clause	Main Clause	Uses
Past Perfect Subjunctive	Perfect Conditional	Impossible or unreal conditions in the past
Past Perfect Subjunctive	Past Perfect Subjunctive	Impossible or unreal conditions in the past Spoken Spanish
Past Perfect Subjunctive	Simple Conditional	General statement Main clause still valid in the present

EXAMPLES

Si hubiera ido al médico, me habría recuperado antes. → If I had gone to the doctor, I would have recovered earlier.
Si hubiera ido al médico, me hubiera recuperado antes. → If I had gone to the doctor, I would have recovered earlier.
Si hubiera ido al médico, ahora no estaría enferma. → If I had gone to the doctor, I wouldn´t be sick now.

Where to Practice the Type 3 Conditional

Gap Fill Exercises

Conditionals type 3
Conditional sentences type 3
C1 – Past perfect subjunctive and perfect conditional: 1 and 2.
Spanish if clauses: Past perfect subjunctive + Conditional Perfect – Advanced: 1 and 2.

Where to Practice all the Conditional Sentences

Gap Fill Exercises

All conditionals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Final Thoughts

I hope this post helps you understand the Spanish si clauses.

I advise you to practice with the examples here and try to make up some others on your own. Also, practice with the exercises that you will find in the links mentioned above.

If you want, I can help you practice with these tenses by using them while having a conversation during our online Spanish conversation classes.

Additionally, we can practice in the comment section below by answering the following questions:

¿Si hace buen tiempo, vas a la playa?
¿Qué harías si ganaras la lotería?
¿Habrías dado la vuelta al mundo si hubieras tenido la oportunidad?

17 Tips to Becoming Conversationally Fluent in Spanish

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