• Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
logo

855-997-4652 LOGINTRY A FREE CLASS

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
logo

855-997-4652 LOGINTRY A FREE CLASS

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
April 29, 2020 by Luis F. Dominguez Spanish Grammar 0 comments

How to Use Conditional Sentences: The Spanish Si Clauses

If the Dallas Cowboys ever won the Superbowl again, I would get myself a tattoo! 

If “A” happens, I would “B.” How do you express an idea like that in Spanish? 

Using the Spanish si clauses. 

Also known as conditional sentences or just conditionals, the Spanish si clauses help you to express a condition that needs to be met in order for a certain consequence or result to take place. 

You use a grammatical structure like this in English all the time; they are the if-then constructions. In Spanish, they are called the si clauses. 

Possibilities

The Spanish si clauses allow you to talk about possibilities. These possibilities, by definition, may or may not become realities. Going back to my example at the start of this article, if it were a fact that the Dallas Cowboys will win the Superbowl, I wouldn’t need to use an if-then construction. I could just say: 

“I’m getting myself a tattoo once the Dallas Cowboys win the Superbowl.” 

Because it’s far from the fact that my favorite football team will win a Superbowl ever again, it requires me to explain it as a possibility, instead of a guaranteed scenario. 

spanish si clauses conditionals

So, how do you say, “If the Dallas Cowboys won the Superbowl again, I would get myself a tattoo.” in Spanish?

Take a look: 

Si los Dallas Cowboys ganaran el Superbowl otra vez, me haría un tatuaje. 

Let’s break this down:

Structure of the Spanish Si Clauses

The Spanish si clauses have two parts or clauses:

  1. The si clause
  2. The result 

The Si Clause

The first clause is known as the si clause, and it sets the condition: 

Si los Dallas Cowboys ganaran el Superbowl otra vez… — If the Dallas Cowboys ever win the Superbowl again…

The condition here is the Cowboys winning the Superbowl. 

The Result

If that happens, then you get to the second clause which indicates the consequence or result if the condition is met: 

…me haría un tatuaje. —  …I would get myself a tattoo. 

Types of Spanish Si Clauses

Spanish si clauses come in three different flavors to express three different kinds of possibilities: 

  • Primer Condicional (1st Conditional): for conditions that are likely to happen. 
  • Segundo Condicional (2nd Conditional): for conditions that are hypothetical or unreal. 
  • Tercer Condicional (3rd Conditional): for imaginary situations in the past. 

Let’s dig deep into each one of them.

Primer Condicional – First Conditional

The good news is that for the primer condicional you don’t have to deal with the subjunctive mood. The bad news is that you have to deal with three different cases: 

1. Si…Present Tense, …Present Tense

You use this case for things that happen with regularity when a condition is met. In this specific structure of the si clauses, you can replace si (if) with cuando (when). Note that in English the result is expressed in the future tense, while in Spanish it’s in the present tense.

Si te duermes, yo apago la luz. – If you fall asleep, I’ll turn off the light. 

Cuando te duermes, yo apago la luz. – When you fall asleep, I’ll turn off the light. 

Si llueve, nos vamos a casa. – If it rains, we’ll go home.

Cuando llueve, nos vamos casa. – When it rains, we’ll go home. 

2. Si…Present Tense, …Future Tense

You use this case for situations that will happen in the future if the condition is met in the present, similar to English. 

Si haces la tarea, aprobarás el examen. – If you do your homework, you’ll pass the exam.

Si trabajas duro, tendrás éxito. – If you work hard, you’ll be successful. 

3. Si…Present Tense, …Imperative

The final case of the primer condicional is the “si present, imperative” construction. You use this structure to give an order using the imperative mood, once a condition has been met in the present. 

Si te sientes mal, descansa un poco. – If you feel bad, take a break.

Si terminas temprano, llámame. – If you finish early, call me. 

Segundo Condicional – Second Conditional

The second conditional is useful to express situations that are unlikely to happen. For this, you need to use the imperfect subjunctive in the si clause. Then, in the second part of the sentence you use the conditional tense to express what could or would happen. 

Si fuera millonario, tendría un yate. – If I were a millionaire, I would have a yacht.

Si estuvieras aquí, te abrazaría con fuerza. – If you were here, I would hold you tight. 

This is the case I need to use for my Dallas Cowboys fan dreams. Due to the fact that it’s unlikely to happen, I have to use the imperfect subjunctive in the following way: 

Si los Dallas Cowboys ganaran el Superbowl otra vez, me haría un tatuaje. 

If the Dallas Cowboys won the Superbowl again, I would get myself a tattoo. 

Tercer Condicional – Third Conditional

You use the third conditional for impossible or imaginary situations in the past. The structure is as follows: Si + past perfect (pluperfect) subjunctive, past perfect subjunctive or conditional. 

Si lo hubiera sabido, nunca me lo habría comido. –  If I had known, I would have never eaten it. 

Si te hubiera invitado, habrías venido. – If I had invited you, you would have come. 

Spanish Si Clauses and Conjugations

The Spanish si clauses are similar in logic to how they work in English. The issue you may have while using them is the conjugations, as you need to get a grasp of the moods that each conditional is using. 

The primer condicional is the easiest one. Here you use the indicative mood, with the most common conjugations. Just remember that the third case of this conditional is the only one using the imperative mood. 

Also, the imperative mood might not be very common, but it’s very easy, as it only comes in the second person. 

For the second and third conditionals, you need to dig in the subjunctive conjugations. That’s the real issue with the Spanish si clauses, the conjugations of the subjunctive mood. Master those, and you’ll have no problem with the si clauses. 

If You Had a Free Class…

Si tuvieras una clase gratis, ¿la tomarías? (If you had a free class, would you take it?).  That’s what Homeschool Spanish Academy is offering you! Book a free class with one of our native Spanish-speaking certified teachers, and practice the Spanish si clauses in real-time.

Want to explore more Spanish grammar lessons? Check these out!

  • Patinar Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson and PDF
  • Who, What, Where? Learn About Spanish Interrogatives
  • A Semi-Comprehensive List of -ER Verbs in Spanish
  • A Semi-Comprehensive List of -AR Verbs in Spanish
  • A Simple Lesson on Direct vs Indirect Spanish
  • What are Spanish ‘Go Verbs’?
  • All About the Future Perfect Tense in Spanish
  • 38 Regular IR and ER Verbs in Spanish You Can Master Today
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Follow me
Luis F. Dominguez
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
Luis F. Domínguez is a freelance writer and independent journalist interested in travel, languages, art, books, history, philosophy, politics and sports. He has written for Fodor’s, Yahoo!, Sports Illustrated, Telemundo, and Villa Experience, among other brands of print and digital media in Europe and North America.
Follow me
Latest posts by Luis F. Dominguez (see all)
  • 10 Original and Lovely Mexican Terms of Endearment - March 8, 2021
  • Manuela Sáenz: The Revolutionary Heroine of South America - March 7, 2021
  • The Pyrotechnic Celebration of Las Fallas de Valencia - March 6, 2021
spanish conditionals spanish grammar spanish si clauses
0

Related Posts

Spanish commands

Spanish Commands: How to Form Them and Use Them with Your Crew

February 19, 2019
Read More
Spanish greetings

How Are You? Spanish Greetings

February 6, 2019
Read More
spanish pronouns

Spanish Pronouns

February 11, 2019
Read More
vos in Spanish

Vos and its use in Spanish – Voseo

March 28, 2019
Read More

Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How to Say You're Beautiful in Spanish and Woo Your Dream DatePrevious Post
8 of the Best Spanish TV Shows for Adults in 2020Next Post

About Us

HSA offers Spanish curricula for all ages. Schedule classes on any day of the week – you can take them on your own, or share a class and save money! We make it easy to learn at your own pace. LEARN MORE >

Resources

  • About
  • Get a Transcript
  • Take a Free Class
  • FAQs
  • How it Works
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Patinar Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson and PDF
    Patinar Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson and PDF
    March 8, 2021
    Are you ready for a fun lesson on patinar...
  • 11 Nicaraguan Slang Words for Everyday Use
    11 Nicaraguan Slang Words for Everyday Use
    March 8, 2021
    Nicaraguan slang is highly creative and...

Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Contact UsSitemap© 2021 HSA. All rights reserved.