Si Clauses (Cláusulas de si) Si lo comemos todo, ganamos el concurso.

Cláusulas con si en el indicativo A si clause states a condition that must be met in order for something to occur. The verb in a simple si clause states a fact and is usually in the present indicative, while the verb in the resultant clause is in the present or future tense or is a command. Si vas al cine, iré contigo. If you go to the movies, I will go with you. Si deseas ver una telenovela, dímelo. If you want to see a soap opera, tell me. Si quieres, veremos la película. If you want, we will see the movie.

Cláusulas con si para expresar hipótesis e información en contra de los hechos When a si clause contains implausible or contrary-to-fact information, the imperfect subjunctive is used in the si clause and the conditional tense is used in the resultant clause. Si fuera un drama bueno, iría a verlo. If it were a good drama, I would go see it. Sería más interesante si supieras cinematografía. It would be more interesting if you knew cinematography. Note that a conditional clause does not have a fixed position in the sentence; it may appear at the beginning or end of the sentence.

Si tengo el dinero, pagaré (pago) la cuenta. Si tuviera el dinero, pagaría la cuenta. Note: The present subjunctive is never used after si when si means “if.” If I have the money, I will (I’ll) pay the bill. If I had the money, I would (I’d) pay the bill. Si clauses: a direct comparison Present tense si clauses that are used with the present or future tense or a command in the resultant clause generally imply a strong likelihood that the action or event will occur or materialize. (Gee, I think I do have the money. Let me check.) Imperfect subjunctive si clauses that are used with the conditional tense indicate that the action or event is hypothetical and is not going to happen. (I don’t have the money, but gee, if I did, I’d pay the bill.)

No sé si tenga el dinero, pero si lo tengo, pagaré (pago) la cuenta. I don’t know whether I have the money, but if I do have it, I’ll pay the bill. Si clauses: a direct comparison Although the present subjunctive is never used after si when si means “if,” it is commonly used after si when si can be translated as “whether.”

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