Real Conditionals: Si tengo tiempo, voy (If I have time, I go)

Spanish: Las oraciones condicionales reales (Si tengo tiempo, voy)

Level: B2 Upper-Intermediate

Category: conditionals

Explanation

Real conditional sentences express situations that are possible, probable, or that happen habitually. They are built with the conjunction "si" (if) followed by a verb in the indicative mood. Unlike unreal conditionals (which use the subjunctive), real conditionals describe conditions that can perfectly well be fulfilled in the present or future. The basic structure is: "si" + present indicative in the condition clause, and present or future indicative in the main clause. For example: "Si tengo tiempo, voy al museo" (If I have time, I go to the museum) or "Si tengo tiempo, iré al museo" (If I have time, I will go to the museum). Both are correct; the present sounds more immediate and certain, while the future emphasizes the later consequence. We also use present + present to express general truths or habitual situations, known as the "zero conditional": "Si llueve, me quedo en casa" (If it rains, I stay home) or "Si calientas el agua a 100 grados, hierve" (If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils). Here we describe something that always happens when the condition is met. It is very important to remember that after the conditional "si" you NEVER use the future or the simple conditional. We do not say "si tendré tiempo" but "si tengo tiempo." The order of the clauses is flexible: you can start with the condition or the result, but if you start with the result you do not use a comma.

Examples

• Si tengo tiempo despues de comer, paso por el museo. - If I have time after eating, I stop by the museum.
• Si pagas con tarjeta, te cobramos un euro mas. - If you pay by card, we charge you one euro more.
• Si la habitacion no le gusta, le buscamos otra. - If you do not like the room, we will find you another one.
• Si compras dos kilos de naranjas, te hago un descuento. - If you buy two kilos of oranges, I will give you a discount.
• Si llueve esta tarde, cogemos un taxi a la estacion. - If it rains this afternoon, we will take a taxi to the station.