Si Clauses in Spanish: real, unreal and impossible
Short answer
Three patterns: si + present + future for the possible (si llueve, no saldré); si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional for the unreal (si tuviera dinero, viajaría); si + pluperfect subjunctive + conditional perfect for the impossible past.
Level B2 · verbs, subjunctive, conditional
The rule in full
Three patterns. Never put si directly with the present subjunctive or the conditional.
| Type | si-clause | Main clause | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real (likely) | present indicative | present / future / imperative | Si tengo tiempo, iré. |
| Unreal (present) | imperfecto de subjuntivo | condicional simple | Si tuviera tiempo, iría. |
| Unreal (past) | pluscuamperfecto de subj. | condicional compuesto | Si hubiera tenido tiempo, habría ido. |
The order can flip: Iría si tuviera tiempo.
como si always takes the imperfecto de subjuntivo: Habla como si lo supiera todo.
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