# Unreal present: si tuviera, haría

> id: grammar.clauses.si-hypothetical · category: grammar · depth: standard · levels: B2 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Contrary-to-fact or unlikely conditions: si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional: si tuviera plata, compraría en Equipetrol.

For conditions that are contrary to fact or unlikely in the present, Spanish uses si + imperfect subjunctive in the if-clause and the conditional in the main clause: si tuviera plata, compraría una casa; si viviera más cerca, vendría caminando.

The pairing is fixed — imperfect subjunctive with conditional: si pudiera, te ayudaría; si fuera vos, esperaría. This frames the situation as imagined rather than expected.

Crucially, never put the conditional inside the si-clause: *si tendría, *si podría are widespread in casual/regional speech but non-standard — keep tuviera/pudiera there. The connector como si ('as if') always takes the imperfect (or pluperfect) subjunctive: habla como si supiera, gasta como si fuera millonario.

## Examples
- Si fuera vos, esperaría. — If I were you, I'd wait.
- Gasta como si fuera millonario. — He spends as if he were a millionaire.
- Si tuviéramos más tiempo, lo haríamos mejor. — If we had more time, we'd do it better.

Related: grammar.clauses.si-real, grammar.clauses.si-past-unreal, conjugation.subjunctive.imperfect

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