Frases condicionales | ||
| modo | subordinada | principal |
| SI | presente indicativo | presente / futuro / imperativo |
| SI | imperfecto indicativo / subjuntivo | condicional |
| SI | imperfecto subjuntivo | condicional |
| SI | pluscuamperfecto subj. | condicional perfecto / pluscuamperfecto subjuntivo |
In Spanish, the conditional sentences are used:
1.- to express real events referring to the present use
SI + present indicative...present, future or imperative
Si llego tarde, te llamo.
If I arrive late, I'll give you a call.
Si tengo hambre, me comeré una pizza.
If I get hungry, I'll eat pizza.
Si necesitas un coche, cómpratelo.
If you need a car, buy one.
2.- to express possible or probable events referring to the present use
SI + imperfect indicative / subjunctive...conditional
Si estabas en casa ayer, podrías haber contestado al teléfono.
If you were at home yesterday, you could have answered the phone.
Si él se encontrara en apuros, le ayudaríamos.
If he were in trouble, we would help him.
3.- to express unreal events referring to the present use
SI + imperfect subjunctive...conditional
Si fuera un oso, podría hibernar durante el invierno.
If I were a bear, I could hibernate during winter.
Si tuviera más tiempo, tomaría clases de cocina.
If I had more time, I would take cooking classes
4.- to express unreal events referring to the past use
SI + pluscuamperfect...conditional perfect or pluscuamperfect subjunctive
Si te hubiera conocido antes, me habría casado contigo.
If I had met you earlier, I would have married you.
Si te hubiera conocido antes, me hubiera casado contigo.
If I had met you earlier, I would have married you.