Conditional Sentences
Spanish "if" sentences use si + a condition, then the result. There are three types, and the less likely the condition, the further back the tenses go.
Taught in: A2.2 Week 6: If It Rains...
The rule at a glance
Si + condition, result
The less likely the condition, the further back the tenses go
Type 1: real
si + present, future
likely to happen
Si llueve, me quedaré en casa.
If it rains, I'll stay at home.
Type 2: hypothetical
si + imperfect subjunctive, conditional
unreal now or unlikely
Si tuviera dinero, compraría un piso.
If I had money, I would buy a flat.
Type 3: past
si + pluperfect subjunctive, conditional perfect
didn't happen
Si hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado.
If I had studied, I would have passed.
- When si means "if", never put the future or conditional after it: Si llueve mañana, not Si lloverá mañana.
- Type 1 or Type 2? It depends on how likely it is: Si viene Juan (I think he will) vs Si viniera Juan (I doubt it).
Forms
Each type pairs one tense in the si clause with one in the result. Type 1 uses the indicative; Types 2 and 3 use the subjunctive: the imperfect subjunctive with the conditional, and the pluperfect subjunctive with the conditional perfect.
| Type | Si clause | Result | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1: real, possible | si + present | future / present / imperative | Si llueve, llevaré paraguas. If it rains, I'll take an umbrella. |
| Type 2: hypothetical present | si + imperfect subjunctive | conditional | Si tuviera dinero, compraría una casa. If I had money, I would buy a house. |
| Type 3: hypothetical past | si + pluperfect subjunctive | conditional perfect | Si hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado. If I had studied, I would have passed. |
The order of the two halves can swap: Iré al cine si tengo tiempo. Put a comma after the si clause only when it comes first.
When to use it
1. Type 1: real or possible conditions
Si + present indicative, then a future, present (for habits), imperative or ir a + infinitive. The condition might really happen.
Future: Si tengo tiempo, iré al cine – If I have time, I'll go to the cinema
Habit: Si llueve, me quedo en casa – If it rains, I stay at home
Imperative: Si ves a Juan, dile que me llame – If you see Juan, tell him to call me
Ir a: Si hace sol, vamos a ir a la playa – If it's sunny, we're going to go to the beach
2. Type 2: hypothetical present or future
Si + imperfect subjunctive, then the conditional, for things that are not true now or unlikely to happen.
Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo – If I had money, I would travel the world (but I don't have money now)
Si fuera rico, compraría un yate – If I were rich, I would buy a yacht (but I'm not rich)
Si pudieras venir, sería genial – If you could come, it would be great (but you probably can't)
Si viviera en España, hablaría español perfectamente – If I lived in Spain, I would speak Spanish perfectly (but I don't live in Spain)
3. Type 3: hypothetical past
Si + pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera/hubiese + participle), then the conditional perfect (habría + participle), for things that didn't happen.
Si hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado el examen – If I had studied, I would have passed the exam (but I didn't study)
Si hubieras venido, habrías conocido a mi hermano – If you had come, you would have met my brother (but you didn't come)
Si lo hubiéramos sabido, habríamos ido contigo – If we had known, we would have gone with you (but we didn't know)
Si hubiera llovido, habríamos cancelado el partido – If it had rained, we would have cancelled the match (but it didn't rain)
4. Giving advice
Type 2 is the most common way to give advice. Yo en tu lugar or yo que tú (if I were you) replaces the si clause.
Yo en tu lugar, estudiaría más – If I were you, I would study more
Yo que tú, no lo compraría – If I were you, I wouldn't buy it
Common mistakes
Future or conditional after si
Not this (incorrect): Si lloverá mañana... / Si tendría dinero...
But this (correct): Si llueve mañana... / Si tuviera dinero... – If it rains tomorrow... / If I had money... Unlike English "would", the si clause (meaning "if") never takes the future or the conditional.
Present subjunctive in Type 2
Not this (incorrect): Si tenga dinero, compraría una casa.
But this (correct): Si tuviera dinero, compraría una casa. – If I had money, I would buy a house. Type 2 uses the imperfect subjunctive, never the present subjunctive.
Mixing up the types
Not this (incorrect): Si tuviera dinero, compraré una casa.
But this (correct): Si tuviera dinero, compraría una casa. – If I had money, I would buy a house. Don't pair si + imperfect subjunctive with a future. (Mixing a past condition with a present result is possible: Si hubiera estudiado, ahora tendría trabajo.)
Si (if) and sí (yes)
Not this (incorrect): Sí tengo tiempo, iré.
But this (correct): Si tengo tiempo, iré. – If I have time, I'll go. Si without an accent means "if"; sí with an accent means "yes": Sí, tengo tiempo (Yes, I have time).
Quick check
8 questions1. Si _____ (tener-yo) tiempo mañana, iré al gimnasio. (Type 1)
Type 1 conditionals use present indicative after 'si'.
2. Si _____ (ser-yo) rico, viajaría por todo el mundo. (Type 2)
Type 2 conditionals use imperfect subjunctive.
3. Si _____ (estudiar-yo) más, habría aprobado el examen. (Type 3)
Type 3 uses pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera + participle).
4. Si llueve, _____ en casa. (Habitual action)
Type 1 can use present tense for habitual actions.
5. Si tuviera más dinero, _____ (comprar) un coche nuevo.
Type 2 uses conditional in the main clause.
6. Si hubieras venido a la fiesta, _____ (conocer) a mis amigos.
Type 3 uses the conditional perfect in the main clause. Hubieras conocido is also correct, and common in Spain.
7. Which is correct for a real possibility tomorrow?
Never use the future after 'si' meaning 'if'. Use the present: 'Si llueve'.
8. Si _____ (ver-tú) a María, dile que me llame.
With imperative in main clause, use present indicative.
Test your mastery of all three types of conditional sentences!
Going further
Type 1 or Type 2 depending on probability, si meaning whether, and more examples of each type
Type 1 or Type 2: probability matters
Both can refer to the future, with different implications. For when to choose subjunctive or indicative more generally, see that page.
Type 1: Si viene Juan, me avisas – If Juan comes, let me know (I think he'll probably come)
Type 2: Si viniera Juan, me avisarías – If Juan were to come, you'd let me know (I doubt he'll come)
Si meaning "whether"
The rule against the future and conditional applies only when si means "if". When it means "whether", any tense works: No sé si vendrá (I don't know whether he'll come).
More Type 1 examples
Si hace sol, vamos a la playa – If it's sunny, we'll go to the beach
Si terminas pronto, te ayudo – If you finish early, I'll help you
Si no estudias, no aprobarás – If you don't study, you won't pass
More Type 2 examples
Si tuviera dinero, viajaría – If I had money, I would travel
Si viviera en España, hablaría mejor – If I lived in Spain, I would speak better
More Type 3 examples
Si hubieras venido, lo habrías visto – If you had come, you would have seen it
Si hubiera llovido, lo habríamos cancelado – If it had rained, we would have cancelled it
Si me hubieras llamado, te habría ayudado – If you had called me, I would have helped you
Si hubieran llegado antes, habrían comido – If they had arrived earlier, they would have eaten