French “If …. – then” clauses Les phrases avec SI French “If …. – then” clauses Many students of French have a hard time with SI CLAUSES (also known as conditionals or conditional sentences), but they are really quite simple. Take notes in your cahier on each of the main types and then take the quiz.

3 types de phrases avec si 1. Likely situations: present + present, futur ou impératif 2. UNlikely situations: imparfait + conditionnel 3. Impossible situations: plus-que-parfait + conditionnel passé

3 types de phrases avec si The first verb tense listed is the one that follows si (if), while the second tense is the result clause - the event that is dependent on the first. In English, the "result clause" is often preceded by "then.“ Si je ne dois pas travailler dimanche j’irai à Londres. If I don’t have to work Sunday, (then) I will go to London. Si clause results clause Si je gagnais beaucoup d’argent je ferais un tour du monde. If I won a lot of money, (then) I would take a trip around the world. S’il n’avait pas plu, j’aurais joué au tennis. If it hadn’t rained, (then) I would have played tennis.

Likely situations Présent + present can use présent + présent , futur ou impératif Présent + present Used for things that happen regularly Si could probably be replaced with quand (when) with little or no difference in meaning si-clause: PRESENT result clause: S’il pleut, nous ne sortons pas. If it rains, we don’t go out. NOTE: the si clause may come in the second half of the sentence: Je regarde la télé si je ne veux pas lire. I watch TV if I don’t want to read.

Likely situations Présent + futur Used for things that are likely to occur The present follows si si-clause: PRESENT result clause: FUTUR Si j’ai le temps, je le ferai. If I have time, I will do it. Tu seras intelligent si tu étudies. You will be smart if you study.

Likely situations Présent + impératif Used to give an order that is dependent upon something The present follows si: it is a situation that is required before the action becomes a command. si-clause: PRESENT result clause: IMPERATIF Si tu peux, viens me voir. If you can, come see me. Ne payez pas l’addition si vous n’avez pas de l’argent. Don’t pay the check if you don’t have any money.

Unlikely situations Used to express something that is unlikely to occur or contrary to present reality The imparfait follows si: it is the condition that must be met before the condition can take place. si-clause: IMPERFECT result clause: CONDITIONAL Si je gagnais à la loterie, j’achèterais une moto. In French, the CONDITIONAL is never used in the si-clause. Si j’avais une voiture, j’irais à la campagne. Si nous habitions à Paris, nous voyagerions en métro. If I had a car (but I don’t), I would go to the country. If we were living in Paris (but we aren’t), we would travel by subway.

Impossible situations Used to express a hypothetical situation that is contrary to past fact The plus-que-parfait follows si: it is the condition that would have had to be different in order for the other event (the conditionnel passé) to have been possible. SI-clause PLUPERFECT MAIN or RESULT clause PAST CONDITIONAL Si j’avais étudié, (If I had studied… Si vous étiez allées à la boum, (If you had gone to the party… j’aurais réussi à l’examen. I would have passed the test.) vous vous seriez amusées. you would have had a good time.)

HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION Révisions les phrases avec SI to describe… SI- clause main or result clause Examples: Si tu vas en ville, tu achètes le journal. a REGULAR EVENT PRESENT PRESENT a POSSIBILITY (concerning a future event) FUTURE IMPERATIVE Si tu vas en ville, tu achèteras / achète le journal. HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION (usually contrary to reality) Si j’avais un billet, j’irais au concert. IMPERFECT CONDTIONAL a HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION in the PAST PAST CONDTIONAL Si j’avais étudié, je n’aurais pas raté l’examen. PLUPERFECT

Practiquons … If I were rich, I would buy a house. If you aren’t tired, tell me a story. We would have eaten if they had been ready. If she gives you money, will you buy a car? I will go to the market if you do the dishes. If he is happy, he laughs all day. If he was rich, he would travel around the world. I would eat less if I gained weight. If we needed money, we would ask. Your brothers would cry if you fell. If I pass the test, we will celebrate. I can’t sleep if it is hot. If they had wanted bread, they would have told me! Si j’ …………………. , j’ ………………..……… une maison. Si tu n’………pas fatigué, ……….……..-moi une histoire. Nous …….…………….. s’ils ………………………………. prệts. Si elle te ……………… de l’argent, …………………….-tu…… J’………….…… au marché si tu …….…………… la vaiselle. S’il …………… content, il ………..……… toute la journée. Si il …..……… riche, il …………..……... aurtou du mounde. Je …………………… moins si j’ ………………………………... Si nous …………… besoin de l’agent, nous …………………. Tes frères ……………………. si tu ……………….……………… Si je ………... l’examen., nous ……………………………… Je ne ………………. pas dormir s’il …………………… chaud. S’ils …………………... du pain, ils me l’ ……………….……… étais acheterais es raconte aurions mangé auraient été donne acheteras irai fais est rit était voyagerait mangerais grossissais avions demanderions pleurerions tombais réussis célébrerons peux fait avaient voulu auraient dit