Other Constructions (AQA A-Level Spanish): Revision Notes
Si Clauses (If-Clauses)
Overview
Si clauses express conditional situations in Spanish. Like English, Spanish uses different verb combinations depending on whether the condition is likely to happen or unlikely/hypothetical. There are two main patterns you need to learn.
The two types of si clauses
Type 1: Likely or possible conditions (SPF)
Use this pattern when talking about something that could realistically happen. It's similar to saying "If it rains, I will stay home" in English.
Formula: Si + present tense + future tense
This pattern is called SPF to help you remember: Si + Present + Future
Worked Example: SPF Construction
Si hace sol, iré a la playa.
- If it is sunny, I will go to the beach.
- This suggests the weather being sunny is a real possibility.
Breaking it down:
- Si = if
- hace (present tense of "hacer") = it is
- iré (future tense of "ir") = I will go
Type 2: Unlikely or hypothetical conditions (SIC)
Use this pattern for situations that are unlikely, imaginary, or contrary to reality. It's like saying "If I won the lottery, I would buy a house" in English.
Formula: Si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional tense
This pattern is called SIC to help you remember: Si + Imperfect subjunctive + Conditional
Worked Example: SIC Construction
Si hiciera sol, iría a la playa.
- If it were sunny, I would go to the beach.
- This suggests the weather is unlikely to be sunny, or the speaker is imagining a different situation.
Breaking it down:
- Si = if
- hiciera (imperfect subjunctive of "hacer") = it were
- iría (conditional of "ir") = I would go
Rules and formation
SPF construction (likely conditions)
When using SPF, you combine:
- Si (if)
- Present tense verb (the condition)
- Future tense verb (the result)
The present tense after si describes a realistic condition, and the future tense expresses what will happen if that condition is met.
Think of SPF as your "realistic possibility" pattern. Use it when the condition could actually happen in real life.
SIC construction (unlikely conditions)
When using SIC, you combine:
- Si (if)
- Imperfect subjunctive verb (the hypothetical condition)
- Conditional tense verb (the hypothetical result)
The imperfect subjunctive after si describes an unlikely or imaginary situation, and the conditional expresses what would happen in that case.
Think of SIC as your "hypothetical or contrary-to-fact" pattern. Use it when the condition is unlikely or when you're imagining a different reality.
Key grammar rule
After the word si, you can ONLY use the present tense or the imperfect subjunctive. You can never use the future tense directly after si, even though English does ("If it will rain...").
The clauses can be swapped around in the sentence, but this rule remains the same:
- Si hace sol, iré a la playa. (Si + present, then future)
- Iré a la playa si hace sol. (Future first, then si + present)
Both are correct, but notice how si is still followed by the present tense in both versions.
Table of structures
| Type | Structure | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPF | Si + present + future | Si hace sol, iré a la playa | If it is sunny, I will go to the beach |
| SIC | Si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional | Si hiciera sol, iría a la playa | If it were sunny, I would go to the beach |
Example sentences with explanations
SPF examples (likely conditions)
SPF Pattern Examples
-
Si tengo sed, yo beberé un vaso de agua.
- If I am thirsty, I will drink a glass of water.
- This uses si + present tense (tengo) + future tense (beberé) because it's a realistic condition.
-
Si está lloviendo, mi madre llevará un paraguas.
- If it is raining, my mother will take an umbrella.
- Present progressive (está lloviendo) after si, followed by future tense (llevará).
-
Si tenemos tiempo, iremos a la fiesta de Isabel.
- If we have time, we will go to Isabel's party.
- Realistic possibility expressed with present tense (tenemos) + future (iremos).
-
Si hace calor, ellos se bañarán en el mar.
- If it is hot, they will swim in the sea.
- Present tense (hace) + future (bañarán) for a likely scenario.
-
Si tú vienes a su fiesta, estará muy contenta.
- If you come to her party, she will be very happy.
- Present (vienes) + future (estará) showing a possible outcome.
SIC examples (unlikely conditions)
SIC Pattern Examples
-
Si tuviera dinero, ella iría al concierto con Miguel.
- If she had money, she would go to the concert with Miguel.
- This uses si + imperfect subjunctive (tuviera) + conditional (iría) because she doesn't have the money (unlikely/hypothetical).
-
Si yo ganara la lotería, compraría una casa.
- If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
- Imperfect subjunctive (ganara) + conditional (compraría) for an unlikely event.
-
Si yo practicara más, tocaría mejor el piano.
- If I practised more, I would play the piano better.
- Hypothetical situation using imperfect subjunctive (practicara) + conditional (tocaría).
-
Si nosotros tuviéramos dinero, iríamos de vacaciones.
- If we had money, we would go on holiday.
- Imperfect subjunctive (tuviéramos) + conditional (iríamos) for an imaginary scenario.
-
Si yo fuera el director del colegio, cambiaría el uniforme.
- If I were the school principal, I would change the uniform.
- Contrary-to-fact condition: imperfect subjunctive (fuera) + conditional (cambiaría).
Mixed examples showing clause order
Flexible Clause Order
Remember: You can swap the order of the si clause and the result clause, but the verb tenses stay the same!
Examples with Different Clause Orders
-
Si llueve mañana, no iremos a la playa.
- If it rains tomorrow, we won't go to the beach.
- Si clause comes first.
-
No iremos a la playa si llueve mañana.
- We won't go to the beach if it rains tomorrow.
- Result clause comes first, but si is still followed by present tense.
-
Si Carlos viera un accidente, ayudaría.
- If Carlos saw an accident, he would help.
- SIC structure with si clause first.
-
Ella iría al concierto si tuviera dinero.
- She would go to the concert if she had money.
- SIC structure with result clause first.
Common mistakes and tips
Mistake 1: Using future tense after si
Never use future tense directly after si!
❌ Si hará sol, iré a la playa. (Incorrect)
✅ Si hace sol, iré a la playa. (Correct)
Remember that si is never directly followed by the future tense, even though English uses "will" after "if". Always use present tense for SPF or imperfect subjunctive for SIC.
Mistake 2: Mixing up the verb tenses
Keep your patterns consistent!
❌ Si hace sol, iría a la playa. (Incorrect mixing)
✅ Si hace sol, iré a la playa. (Correct - SPF)
✅ Si hiciera sol, iría a la playa. (Correct - SIC)
If you use present tense after si, use future tense in the result clause (SPF). If you use imperfect subjunctive after si, use conditional in the result clause (SIC).
Mistake 3: Forgetting subjunctive endings
Don't confuse imperfect subjunctive with preterite!
❌ Si hizo sol, iría a la playa. (Incorrect - preterite instead of imperfect subjunctive)
✅ Si hiciera sol, iría a la playa. (Correct)
For SIC constructions, you need the imperfect subjunctive after si, not the preterite. Remember your imperfect subjunctive endings: -ara/-iera (or -ase/-iese).
Mistake 4: Confusing likely and unlikely contexts
Using the wrong construction for the situation can change your meaning completely. Compare:
- Si tengo tiempo, iré. (If I have time, I will go.) - realistic possibility
- Si tuviera tiempo, iría. (If I had time, I would go.) - implies I don't have time
Choosing the Right Pattern
Ask yourself: "Is this realistic or just hypothetical?"
- If it's realistic, use SPF
- If it's unlikely or imaginary, use SIC
Mistake 5: Forgetting accent marks
Conditional verbs always need their accent!
❌ Si hiciera sol, iria a la playa. (Missing accent on iría)
✅ Si hiciera sol, iría a la playa. (Correct)
Conditional verbs always have an accent on the í. Don't forget to write it!
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
-
Two patterns: SPF (si + present + future) for likely conditions, and SIC (si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional) for unlikely/hypothetical conditions.
-
Never use future after si: Always use present tense or imperfect subjunctive directly after the word si.
-
Clauses are flexible: You can swap the order of the clauses, but the verb tenses remain the same.
-
Be consistent: Match your verb tenses correctly within each pattern (don't mix SPF and SIC).
-
Context matters: Choose SPF for realistic possibilities and SIC for unlikely or imaginary situations.