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/si/

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Translation

if; so (intensifier); yes (contradicting a negative statement)

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Word origin

The conditional conjunction 'if' comes from Latin si ('if'). The intensifier and the affirmative 'yes' (contradicting a negative) come from Latin sic ('thus, so').

Origin
Latin
Root
si / sic

Short forms

  • s'only before il and ils (never before elle)

    S'il pleut, on reste à la maison.

    If it rains, we stay at home.

Examples

, .

If you're hungry, there's some cake left in the fridge.

.

It's so beautiful that I have tears in my eyes.

- ? - , !

- You don't like it? - Yes I do, I love it!

, - .

If you come tomorrow, call me first.

.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

a trois emplois majeurs. Premièrement, conjonction de condition (si tu viens...), toujours suivie de l'indicatif (présent ou imparfait/plus-que-parfait, jamais du conditionnel). Deuxièmement, adverbe d'intensité (si grand, si bien), synonyme soutenu de tellement. Troisièmement - et c'est la spécificité qui n'existe pas en anglais - interjection pour contredire une affirmation négative : à Tu n'as pas faim ?, on répond Si (pas oui).

L'erreur la plus fréquente est d'utiliser le conditionnel après si conditionnel : si tu viendrais est fautif, si tu venais est correct. La règle mnémotechnique : si + imparfait > conditionnel présent (hypothèse), si + plus-que-parfait > conditionnel passé (irréel du passé).

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French · Free printables

si: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the French word "si" (if; so (intensifier); yes (contradicting a negative statement)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

This word is taught in chapter 2, lesson 4: si, vouloir, savoir and 11 more words.