Real conditions: si + present
B1Grammar path · Lesson 53 of 86 · Stage B1 · Conditions and the past
When you talk about something that can really happen and what follows from it, like plans, advice or general truths, you use a real condition. The core idea is simple: the condition clause always takes si + present tense, and the result clause takes the present, the future, ir a + infinitive or an imperative: si tienes tiempo, llámame. After si you never use the future or the present subjunctive. Learners often confuse this with unreal conditions like si tuviera: use si + present when the situation is genuinely possible, and si + imperfect subjunctive when it is unlikely or contrary to reality.
Practise this lesson · 10 sentences
Form
Si + presente, presente / futuro / ir a + infinitivo / imperativoSi no + presente, resultado¿Qué + presente / futuro + si + presente?Resultado + si + presenteWhen to use it
Likely future conditions
Use it for plans or predictions that depend on a real possibility. The result clause usually takes the future or ir a + infinitive.
General truths and habits
When a condition always leads to the same result, both clauses use the present. Here si is close to 'whenever'.
Advice and instructions
The result clause is an imperative, telling the listener what to do in a given situation.
Si + present → main clause
Signal words
Don't confuse it with
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the future tense after si?
No. After conditional si you use the present even when the meaning is future: say si llueve mañana, not *si lloverá mañana. The future goes only in the result clause.
Is the present subjunctive used after si?
Never. *Si tengas is wrong; real conditions always use the present indicative: si tienes.
Which tense goes in the result clause?
You can use the present, the future, ir a + infinitive or an imperative, depending on whether you state a general truth, a plan or advice.
What is the difference between si and sí?
si without an accent means 'if' and introduces conditions. sí with an accent means 'yes' or is an emphatic pronoun.
When do I use si tengo and when si tuviera?
Use si tengo when the condition can really happen. Use si tuviera when you imagine a situation that is unlikely or untrue right now.
Can the si clause go at the end of the sentence?
Yes. You can say te llamo si tengo noticias; when the si clause comes second, you usually drop the comma.