Si Clauses

Si Clauses
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. Study the lessons on each of the main
types and then take the quiz.
There are three main types of si clauses:
1. First conditional: Likely situations (present

+ present, future, or imperative)
2. Second conditional: Unlikely situations
(imperfect + conditional)
3. Third conditional: Impossible situations
(pluperfect + conditional perfect)
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."
1. Si je ne dois pas travailler dimanche j’irai à

Londres.
2. Si je gagnais beaucoup d’argent je ferais un
tour du monde.
3. S’il n’avait pas plu, j’aurais joué au tennis
First conditional: Likely situations (present +
present, future, or imperative)
Present - Present
This construction is used for things that happen regularly. Note

that the si in these sentences could probably be replaced by
quand (when) with little or no difference in meaning.
S'il pleut, nous ne sortons pas - If it rains, we don't go

out.
Nous ne sortons pas s'il pleut - We don't go out if it
rains.
Si je ne veux pas lire je regarde la télé - If I don't want
to read I watch TV.
Je regarde la télé si je ne veux pas lire - I watch TV if I
don't want to read.
Present - Future
The present - future construction is used for events that are likely
to occur. The present follows si; it is the situation that is required
before the other action can take place.
Si j'ai le temps, je le ferai - If I have time, I will do it.

Je le ferai si j'ai le temps - I will do it if I have time.
Si tu étudies, tu seras intelligent - If you study, you will
be smart.
Tu seras intelligent si tu étudies - You will be smart if
you study.
Present - Imperative
This construction is used to give an order that is dependent on

something. The present follows si; it is the situation that is
required before the other action becomes a command.
Si tu peux, viens me voir - If you can, come see me.

Viens me voir si tu peux - Come see me if you can.
(If you can't, then don't worry about it.)
Si vous avez de l'argent, payez la facture - If you have
money, pay the bill.
Payez la facture si vous avez de l'argent - Pay the bill if
you have money.
(If you don't have money, someone else will take care
of it.)
Second conditional: Unlikely Situations
The imperfect - conditional construction is used to express

something that is contrary to present fact or unlikely to occur (the
second conditional). The imperfect follows si; it is the condition
that must be met before the conditional action can take place.
Si j'avais le temps, je le ferais - If I had time, I would do

it.
Je le ferais si j'avais le temps - I would do it if I had
time.
Si tu étudiais, tu serais intelligent - If you studied, you

would be smart.
Tu serais intelligent si tu étudiais - You would be smart
if you studied.
Third conditional: Impossible situations
The pluperfect - conditional perfect construction is used to

express a hypothetical situation that is contrary to past fact (the
third conditional). The pluperfect follows si; it is the event that
would have had to be different in order for the other event
(conditional perfect) to have been possible.
Si j'avais eu le temps, je l'aurais fait - If I had had time, I would

have done it.
Je l'aurais fait si j'avais eu le temps - I would have done it if I had
had time.
Si tu avais étudié, tu aurais été intelligent - If you had studied,
you would have been smart.
Tu aurais été intelligent si tu avais étudié - You would have been
smart if you had studied.
Si elle vous avait vu, elle vous aurait aidé - If she had seen you,
she would have helped you.
Elle vous aurait aidé si elle vous avait vu - She would have helped
you if she had seen you.
QUESTIONS
1. If I were rich, I would buy a house.

2. If you're not tired, tell me a story.
3. We would have eaten if they had been ready.
4. If she gives you some money, will you buy a car?
5. I will go to the market if you do the dishes.
6. If he's happy, he laughs all day.
7. If they had wanted bread, they would have told me.
8. Your brothers would cry if you fell.
9. If you have the camera, take a picture.
10. Will we survive if you lose your job?
11. If I pass the test, we'll celebrate.
12. If you wanted to study, you should have told them.
13. I can't sleep if it's hot.
14. If you're hungry, eat something.
15. He'll be happy if he gets married.
Answers
1. Si j'étais riche, j'achèterais une maison.
2. Si tu n'es pas fatigué, raconte-moi une histoire.
3. Nous aurions mangé s'ils avaient été prêts.
4. Si elle te donne de l'argent, achèteras-tu une voiture ?
5. J'irai au marché si tu fais la vaiselle.
6. S'il est heureux, il rit pendant toute la journée.
7. S'ils avaient voulu du pain, ils me l'auraient dit.
8. Tes frères pleureraient si tu tombais.
9. Si tu as (vous avez) l'appareil-photo, prends (prenez) une photo.
10. Est-ce que nous survivrons si tu perds ton emploi ?
11. Si je réussis à l'examen, nous célébrerons.
12. Si tu avais voulu étudier, tu aurais dû le leur dire.
13. Je ne peux pas dormir s'il fait chaud.
14. Si tu as (vous avez) faim, mange (mangez) quelque chose.
15. Il sera content/heureux s'il se marie.
L’expression de l’hypothèse:
Proposition hypothèse Expression de la conséquence exemples
Si+ present La conséquence est exprimé au - Si tu as le temps , viens avec

l’hypothèse est situé dans le présent, à l’imperatif ou au futur. moi.
présent et est possible - Si vous aimez ce plat,je vous
donnerai la recette.
Si + passé composé La conséquence est exprimé au -s’il a gagné,il doit être heureux
l’hypothèse est situé dans le présent, au passé composé ou au et il a sûrement fait la fête.
passé et est possible futur. - si tu as fini cet exercice, je vais
t’expliquer la suite.
Si + imparfait La conséquence est exprimé au Si je pouvais , j’habiterais sur une

l’hypothèse est situé dans le conditionnel présent île!
présent et est irréelle -si internet n’existait pas, que
ferions-nous?
Si + plus que parfait La conséquence est exprimé au -si tu avais moins mangé, tu ne
l’hypothèse est situé dans le conditionnel présent ou au serais pas malade.
passé et est irréelle conditionnel passé . - si j’avais su, je ne serais pas
venu.

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Si Clauses

French “If…-then” Clauses

Many students of French have a hard time with si

1. First conditional: Likely situations (present

1. Si je ne dois pas travailler dimanche j’irai à

This construction is used for things that happen regularly. Note

S'il pleut, nous ne sortons pas - If it rains, we don't go

Si j'ai le temps, je le ferai - If I have time, I will do it.

This construction is used to give an order that is dependent on

Si tu peux, viens me voir - If you can, come see me.

The imperfect - conditional construction is used to express

Si j'avais le temps, je le ferais - If I had time, I would do

Si tu étudiais, tu serais intelligent - If you studied, you

The pluperfect - conditional perfect construction is used to

Si j'avais eu le temps, je l'aurais fait - If I had had time, I would

1. If I were rich, I would buy a house.

Proposition hypothèse Expression de la conséquence exemples

Si+ present La conséquence est exprimé au - Si tu as le temps , viens avec

Si + imparfait La conséquence est exprimé au Si je pouvais , j’habiterais sur une

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