grammar.clauses.si-real

Real conditions: si tengo tiempo, voy

Open conditions use si + present indicative, with present, future, or imperative in the main clause: si llueve, no salimos; si puedes, llámame.

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Explicación

Open, realistic conditions — things that may well happen — use si + present indicative in the if-clause, with the present, the future, or a command in the main clause: si llueve, no salimos; si firmas hoy, empezamos el lunes; si puedes, llámame.

A firm rule: never use the present subjunctive right after si. *Si tengas, *si vengas are impossible — it's si tengo, si vienes. (The subjunctive does appear in conditions, but only the imperfect/pluperfect kind, for unreal situations — the next rules.)

Si + a past indicative checks a real past fact, often to draw a conclusion: si lo dijo, fue por algo ('if he said it, there was a reason'). For hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions, the imperfect subjunctive + conditional takes over.

Ejemplos

Si el precio baja, compramos.
If the price drops, we buy.

Región: global

Si ves a Marco, avisale.
If you see Marco, let him know.

Región: global

Si el precio baja esta semana, compramos.
If the price drops this week, we'll buy.

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