Si Clauses Responding to a « What if…? » situation

Si clauses with the conditional You already know the conditional means that something « would » happen. This is based on a condition (hense the word « conditional ») The conditional tense is often triggered by a si clause; or a « What if…? » clause. A « clause » proposes something

Si clauses with the conditional In French, the word « si » means « if. » Often, to trigger the conditional, you must use the following equasion: SI + IMPARFAIT = CONDITIONAL Here: « SI + IMPARFAIT » is the Si clause exemplaire: Si tu avais $5, tu acheterais deux cafés.

Si clauses with the futur simple You already know the futur simple means that something « will » happen. This can also be based on a condition. However, unlike the conditional, this condition is based on the present tense (not the imperfect). What happens in the present tense (si clause), effects the futur (futur simple)

Si clauses with the futur simple Often, to trigger the futur, you must use the following equasion: SI + PRESENT = FUTUR SIMPLE Here: « SI + PRESENT » is the Si clause exemplaire: Si tu vas au cinéma, je viendrai avec toi.

Asking a polite question with si clauses Often, the clause « Si + imparfait » is used to ask a question politely: Si on allait danser ce soir? Si tu mangeais le diner? *NOTE* there is no conditional to follow this. This is because the clause itself is a question, and is not triggering anything.

A-Vous! If I had a million dollars, I’d buy a big house If you are tired, I will not go She would go, if you had a ticket. We will talk, if you write. They(m.) will sing, if he has the music.