1. 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.

2. 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. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.)

9. 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

10. 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