Conditional Sentences

Most Common Types

Si clause Conclusion Present Present / Future Si voy al centro, te compraré algo

Imperfect Subjunctive Conditional Si fuera al centro, te compraría algo

Pluperfect Subjunctive Conditional perfect Si hubiera ido al centro, Te habría comprado algo

Note There are other types of if clauses possible – they mainly follow the same tenses as in English. These are the most common. The most important thing to remember is that si can never be followed by the present subjunctive.

1. If it rains will stay at home.

2. If I had seen Juan, I would have spoken with him.

3. If you had driven more carefully, you wouldn’t have had the accident.

4. If I needed the money, I’d sell the car.

5. If we see them, we’ll give them the money.

6. If I had lots of money, I would go to Spain more often.

Another useful construction como si + imperfect/pluperfect subjunctive (as if he were / as if he had)

Elena hablaba como si fuera una reina

Adolfo gasta su dinero como si hubiera ganado una gran fortuna

1. Carmen spoke as if she were angry.

2. Martín played football as if he were Maradona.

3. Lola looked at me as if she had never seen me.

4. The artist painted as if he had studied with Picasso Revision exercises

A 1. No me regañes como si (ser) …………. mi padre.

2. Si yo (tener) …………. más dinero, compraría un Ferrari.

3. Si esa estación (ser) …………. tan popular, será porque es divertido.

4. Juan moriría si (tener) …………. que trabajar toda la noche,

5. Si yo no (haber) …………. hablado tanto en clase, habría sacado mejores notas.

6. Si Dios no (existir) …………., habría que inventarlo. (Descartes)

1. If you had been there, you would have seen my sister.

2. If I were rich, I would buy a new home.

3. He speaks Spanish as if he were a native.

4. If you had paid your taxes you wouldn’t have all these problems.

5. If they arrive on time, we can go to the cinema.

6. If the government changed the law, less people would die from smoking.

Write a short poem in Spanish illustrating the “if clauses” and/or “como si”.