Spanish 3 / Unit 6: The Imperfect Subjunctive and Si Clauses
6.4 Si Clauses: Hypothetical Situations
Notes
For situations that are unlikely, imaginary or contrary to fact, use si + imperfect subjunctive in the if-clause and the conditional in the result clause.
| If-clause | Result clause |
|---|---|
| Si + imperfect subjunctive | conditional |
| Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo. | If I had money, I would travel the world. |
| Si fuéramos ricos, compraríamos una casa. | If we were rich, we would buy a house. |
| Haría más ejercicio si tuviera tiempo. | I would exercise more if I had time. |
- Never put the conditional in the si-clause: Si tendría dinero is wrong.
- Si yo fuera tú, hablaría con el profesor. (If I were you, I would talk to the teacher.)
- Worked example: Si ganáramos la lotería, ayudaríamos a nuestras familias.
Practice
Si yo ___ (ser) rico, viajaría por el mundo.
Hypothetical situation: si + imperfect subjunctive. Ser → fueron → fuera.
Si tuviéramos más tiempo, nosotros ___ (visitar) el museo.
The if-clause is imperfect subjunctive, so the result is conditional: visitaríamos.
¿Cuál de estas oraciones es incorrecta?
The conditional can never follow si in the if-clause.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 6 test.