Forming "if" Clauses  


Forming "if" Clauses

There are three basic patterns for "if" sentences. They correspond to the time frames when the events take place. We could be speaking about the future, the present, or the past:

present indicative

Si + present indicative, present indicative.

Si lo veo mañana, le digo cuándo es la fiesta.

Si + present indicative, future. [or ir + a + infinitive]

Si lo veo mañana, le diré cuándo es la fiesta.
Si lo veo mañana, le voy a decir cuándo es la fiesta.

Si + present indicative, imperative.

Si lo ves mañana, dile cuándo es la fiesta.

[remember commands are directed at second person singular [tú /usted]
or plural [ustedes / vosotros], or first person plural
as in "let's" [nosotros]

past indicative

Si + preterite indicative, preterite indicative.

Si lo vio ayer, se lo dijo.

Si + imperfect indicative, imperfect indicative.

Si venía a cenar con nosotros, siempre pagaba.

subjunctive + conditional

Si + imperfect subjunctive, conditional.

Si fuera rica, viajaría por todo el mundo.

Si + pluperfect subjunctive, conditional perfect.

Si hubiera visto al Presidente, te lo habría dicho.

Si + pluperfect subjunctive, pluperfect subjunctive

Si hubiera visto al Presidente, te lo hubiera dicho.

como si

SI + imperfecto subjuntivo = present

Me mira como si no me conociera.

SI + pluperfect subjunctive = past

Me miró como si no me hubiera visto antes.

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Related Topics
forming present subjunctive

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