What are the three types of si clause in Spanish?

Real: si + present, with a present, future or command after it: si llueve, me quedo en casa. Unreal now or future: si + imperfect subjunctive, then the conditional: si tuviera dinero, viajaría. Unreal past: si + pluperfect subjunctive, then the conditional perfect: si hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado (if I had studied, I would have passed).

Can you use the future after si in Spanish?

Not when si means if. Spanish, like English, keeps the if half in the present and puts the future in the result: si llueve mañana, me quedaré en casa (if it rains tomorrow, I'll stay at home). When si means whether, the future is fine: no sé si vendrá (I don't know whether he will come).

What does 'como si' take, and why?

The imperfect or the pluperfect subjunctive, because as if compares with something imagined: habla como si fuera el jefe (he talks as if he were the boss), me miró como si hubiera visto un fantasma (she looked at me as if she had seen a ghost). Como si es is wrong.

Can you use hubiera instead of habría in a Spanish si clause?

In the result half, yes: si lo hubiera sabido, no hubiera venido is standard Spanish, as is no habría venido. In the si half, never: si habría sabido is wrong. The -ra form can stand in for the conditional; the conditional can never stand in for the subjunctive.

Spanish Si Clauses: If Sentences, si tuviera, si hubiera

Q: Why can you never say 'si tendría' or 'si tenga'?

Because in standard Spanish si meaning if never takes the conditional or the present subjunctive. The if half of an unreal sentence takes the imperfect subjunctive and the -ría form waits in the other half: si tuviera tiempo, iría. A real condition takes the plain present: si tengo tiempo, iré.

By Michael McGettrick and Sergio Linares-HernandesUpdated 12 October 2026

Spanish if-sentences come in three types, set by how real the if is:

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Each sentence has one wrong verb. Tap it.

, . - If it rains, I stay at home.
, . - If I had money, I would travel.
, . - If I had studied, I would have passed.

The three types on one screen

real (si + present)unreal now (si + imperfect subjunctive)unreal past (si + pluperfect subjunctive)What do the colours mean?

Could well happenToo late now

si llueve
si lloviera
si hubiera llovido

Type	The si half	The result half
Real	present	present, future, command
Unreal now	imperfect subjunctive	conditional
Unreal past	pluperfect subjunctive	conditional perfect

Type	Example	English
Real	`, .`	If it rains, I stay at home.
Unreal now	`, .`	If I had money, I'd travel.
Unreal past	`, .`	If I'd studied, I'd have passed.

The golden rule: no -ría after si

real (si + present)unreal now (si + imperfect subjunctive)What do the colours mean?

When means if, standard Spanish never puts three things after it: a - form, a present subjunctive or the future. The - form belongs in the other half:

Wrong	Right	English
	`, .`	If I had time, I'd go.
	`, .`	If I have time, I'll go.
	`, .`	If it rains tomorrow, I'm not going out.

When si means whether

All of that is about meaning if. When it means whether, in a reported question, any indicative tense goes, the future and the conditional included:

. - I don't know whether he/she will come.
. - He/She asked me whether I would go.

Type 1: real conditions

real (si + present)What do the colours mean?

When the if could really happen, use + present. The result can be a present, a future or a command:

Result	Spanish	English
present	`, .`	If it rains, I stay at home.
future	`, .`	If it rains, I'll stay at home.
command	`, .`	If you have time, call me.

The if stays in the present even about tomorrow, as in English: ... (If it rains tomorrow...).

A real if about the past takes a past indicative:

, . - If he/she said it, it's true.
, . - If it rained, we used to stay in.

Type 2: unreal now or future

unreal now (si + imperfect subjunctive)What do the colours mean?

When the if is only imagined, use + imperfect subjunctive, then the conditional:

Use	Spanish	English
imagining	`, .`	If I had money, I'd travel.
advice	`, .`	If I were you, I wouldn't do it.
can't now	`, .`	If we could, we'd help you.
a question	`¿ ?`	What would you do if you earned more?

The - form works here too, with the same meaning: , . The result half has no - option: it takes the - form. In relaxed speech you will also hear the imperfect there ( , .), but the - form is always right.

The halves can swap, and the comma follows

real (si + present)unreal now (si + imperfect subjunctive)What do the colours mean?

The half can come first or second, with the same meaning. When it comes first, a comma usually follows it; when it comes second, no comma:

, . - If it rains, I stay at home.
. - I stay at home if it rains.
. - I'd travel if I had money.

Type 3: unreal past

unreal past (si + pluperfect subjunctive)What do the colours mean?

When the if is about a past that did not happen, use + pluperfect subjunctive, then the conditional perfect:

si hubiera estudiado: a past that did not happen (unreal past)
si tuviera dinero: an imagined now (unreal now)
si llueve mañana: could still happen (real)

Use	Spanish	English
regret	`, .`	If I'd studied, I'd have passed.
a missed day	`, .`	If you'd come, you'd have had fun.
hindsight	`, .`	If we'd known, we wouldn't have come.

In the result half, can replace . Both are standard:

, . - If we had known, we wouldn't have come.

In the half it never works the other way: never .

An unreal past with a result now

When the result is about now, it takes the plain conditional:

, . - If I had studied, I'd have a good job now.

Como si: always the past subjunctive

unreal now, imperfect subjunctiveunreal past, pluperfect subjunctiveWhat do the colours mean?

(as if) compares with something imagined, so it takes the imperfect subjunctive, or the pluperfect for an earlier action:

. - He talks as if he were the boss.
. - He/She treats me as if he/she didn't know me.
. - He/She looked at me as if he/she had seen a ghost.

Never the indicative: is wrong.

Mistakes English speakers make

Wrong	Right	Why
	`, .`	no - form after
	`, .`	no present subjunctive after
	`, .`	no future after
...	`, .`	unreal now: conditional result
...	`, .`	a past result: + participle
	`.`	: past subjunctive

What to do next

Write one sentence of each type about your own week.
Do the sort and story drills below.
Then the pluperfect subjunctive, the engine of the third type.

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

0/6

Which type of condition does each si half start?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Complete the story

0/4

Choose the verb form for each gap.

Plans and regrets

Si mañana, no salgo. Si tiempo esta tarde, te llamo. Si dinero, me iría de vacaciones. Y si lo sabido antes, no habría venido.

Gap 1 of 4

Spot the mistake

0/4

Each sentence has one wrong verb. Tap it.

Pick the right one

0/5

Choose the form that fits the si clause.

Si dinero, viajaría por el mundo.
Si llueve, me en casa.
Si salido antes, habría llegado a tiempo.
Si tuviera hambre, algo.
¿Qué harías si más dinero?

Fill in the blank

0/5

Write the form the si clause needs. Never a -ría form or a present subjunctive straight after si.

Si dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (tener, yo) (unreal now)
Si tienes tiempo, esta tarde. (llamar, command to tú, + me) (a real condition can end in a command)
Si yo rico, compraría una casa en la playa. (ser) (unreal now)
Si no hubiera llovido, habríamos a la playa. (ir) (the participle of ir)
Me trata como si no me . (conocer) (como si: past subjunctive)

Frequently asked questions

What are the three types of clause in Spanish?

Real: + present, with a present, future or command after it: , . Unreal now or future: + imperfect subjunctive, then the conditional: , . Unreal past: + pluperfect subjunctive, then the conditional perfect: , (if I had studied, I would have passed).

Why can you never say ' ' or ' '?

Because in standard Spanish meaning if never takes the conditional or the present subjunctive. The if half of an unreal sentence takes the imperfect subjunctive and the -ría form waits in the other half: , . A real condition takes the plain present: , .

Can you use the future after in Spanish?

Not when means if. Spanish, like English, keeps the if half in the present and puts the future in the result: , (if it rains tomorrow, I'll stay at home). When means whether, the future is fine: (I don't know whether he will come).

What does ' ' take, and why?

The imperfect or the pluperfect subjunctive, because as if compares with something imagined: (he talks as if he were the boss), (she looked at me as if she had seen a ghost). is wrong.

Can you use instead of in a Spanish clause?

In the result half, yes: , is standard Spanish, as is . In the half, never: is wrong. The -ra form can stand in for the conditional; the conditional can never stand in for the subjunctive.

Spanish Si Clauses: If Sentences, si tuviera, si hubiera

Quick check

Spot the mistake

The three types on one screen

The golden rule: no -ría after si

When si means whether

Type 1: real conditions

Type 2: unreal now or future

The halves can swap, and the comma follows

Type 3: unreal past

An unreal past with a result now

Como si: always the past subjunctive

Mistakes English speakers make

What to do next

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

Complete the story

Spot the mistake

Pick the right one

Fill in the blank

Practice worksheets and infographics

Free for members

Frequently asked questions

Spanish Si Clauses: If Sentences, si tuviera, si hubiera

Quick check

Spot the mistake

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

Complete the story

Spot the mistake

Pick the right one

Fill in the blank

Practice worksheets and infographics

Free for members

More grammar on this course

Frequently asked questions