Cláusulas con “si” If Clauses

I wouldn’t do that (unexpressed: if I were you) I. What is an “If Clause”? These sentences consist of 2 parts: an if/si clause a result/effect clause * It’s important to remember that one of the components might not be specifically expressed: I wouldn’t do that (unexpressed: if I were you)

II. Types of If Clauses Si tengo el dinero, iré al cine. 1. a “real” condition: Indicative If A happens, B will happen If + present tense, future tense Si tengo el dinero, iré al cine. If I have the money, I will go to the movies. Si me tocas, te pegaré en tu cara fea If you touch me, I will hit you in your ugly face

II. Types of If Clauses (continued) 2. a “hypothetical” condition: Subjunctive If A were to happen, B would happen If + past subjunctive tense, conditional tense Si tuviera el dinero, compraría una bici. If I had the money (but I don’t), I would buy a bike Si me tocaras, te pegaría en tu cara fea y rompería tus piernas esqueléticas. If you were to ever touch me (but I know you know better to even try it), I would punch you in your ugly face and break your scrawny legs.

III. Comparasions Si estudio, recibiré buenas notas. If I study (and I usually do), I will get good grades (because I’m a good and conscientious student…unlike some of the other students in Spanish…). Si estudiara, recibiría buenas notas. If I were to study (but let’s be real– even though I’m smart I don’t like school and I could not care less about my grades), I would get good grades.

III. Comparasions (continued) Si no corto el césped, mi mamá lo hará. If I don’t cut the grass, my mom will do it (because she hates our lawn to look out of control). Si no cortara el césped, mi mamá lo haría. If I didn’t cut the grass (give me a break– I always mow the lawn because I have home training and I don’t want my mom to cut the grass, but if for some bizarre reason I couldn’t), my mom would do it.

III. Comparasions (continued) Saldré con tu novio a cenar si tú rompes con él. I will be going out with your boyfriend (because he has a really nice personality) if you break up with him. Saldría con tu novio a una cena romántica, a bailar, y caminar en la playa debajo de las estrellas encantadoras si rompieras con él. I would ask your boyfriend out (in a heartbeat because he is one hot…. and his swag? Oh yeah. So you better watch yourself) if you were ever to break up with him (but like that’s ever gonna happen because you two are practically married and make googly eyes at each other…. blaach.

IV. Contrary-to-Fact Situations Te llamaría si pudiera. I would call you if I could (but I won’t be able to). Si yo fuera tú, no les diría la verdad. If I were you (but Thank You God, Allah, Buddah, et al., that I’m not you because that would suck… I’m just saying), I wouldn’t tell them the truth. Note: The Present Subjunctive is NEVER used in an if clause.

V. Como si Como si (as if) is always followed by the past subjunctive. Antonio siempre nos ofrece consejos como si tuviera cinco hijos. Antonio always offers us advice as if he had five children (like he would ever have one kid; he can’t even get a date) Mónica actúa como si hubiera hecho la tarea. Mónica acts as if she had done the homework (Pfff! She just copies it off her boyfriend because she can’t do honors work; she can’t even add 2 + 2!).