11.5: If clauses
- Page ID
- 415691
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Sentences with if clauses consist of two parts: a clause that contains the word if, and a main clause. In Spanish we use the word si without an accent to say if.
Actions that are definite or almost certain use present in the if clause and the future in the main clause.
If you study, you will do well. Si estudias, harás bien. If we work, we will have the money. Si trabajamos, tendremos el dinero. If I see my dog, I will feel happy. Si veo a mi perro, me sentiré feliz.
Actions that are less certain use the imperfect subjunctive, a verb tense we still need to learn, in the if clause and the conditional in the main clause.
If I had the money, I would travel more. Si tuviera el dinero, viajaría más.
If she could, she would run a marathon. Si pudiera, correría un maratón. If I were younger, I would eat more pizza. Si fuera más joven, comería más pizza.
The clauses in these sentences can also be reversed. Remember, the future is always used with the present tense, and the conditional is always used with the imperfect subjunctive.
You will do well if you study. Harás bien si estudias. We will have money if we work. Tendremos el dinero si trabajamos. I will feel happy if I see my dog. Me sentiré feliz si veo a mi perro.
I would travel more if I had the money. Viajaría más si tuviera el dinero. She would run a marathon if she could. Correría un maratón si pudiera. I would eat more pizza if I were younger. Comería más pizza si fuera más joven.
For now, sentences with if clauses can be a good way to practice using the future and conditional tenses. So, let's practice.
Práctica
A. Complete each sentence with an appropriate form of the future.
1. Si ella corre,
2. Si tú cantas,
3. Si estudiamos mucho,
4. Si estamos en un restaurante,
5. Si bebo café,
6. Si no vamos a clase,
7. Si ustedes trabajan horas extras,
8. Si voy Target,
9. Si no tengo mucha tarea,
10.Si hace mal tiempo,
B. Complete each sentence with an appropriate form of the conditional.
1. Si yo tuviera más dinero,
2. Si yo pudiera cantar,
3. Si tuvieras más dinero,
4. Si no estudiáramos español,
5. Si no asistiéramos AU,
6. Si la profesora ganara la lotería,
7. Si pudiéramos,
8. Si la profesora cancelara la clase,
9. Si yo fuera un(a) animal,
10. Si la profesora fuera un(a) animal,
C. Complete each sentence with an appropriate form of the future or conditional, depending on the if clause.
1. Si no trabajo
2. Si yo no trabajara
3. Si los estudiantes no estudian
4. Si los estudiantes no estudiaran
5. Si podemos
6. Si pudiéramos
7. Si tengo tiempo
8. Si tuviera más tiempo
9. Si vamos a Panamá
10. Si fuéramos a Panamá
D. La música. The song Si yo tuviera una escoba by Los Sirex tells us what the singer would do if he had a broom. Listen to the song. Then, explain why he uses the conditional to complete the sentence si yo tuviera una escoba.
D. Why are if clauses a good way to practice the future and conditional verb tenses? Give an example of an if clause with the future and with the conditional.