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Guia · Unidade 17 · B2

If-Sentences and Hypotheticals

Real and unreal conditions with si

  1. 1

    Si tu viens, on ira ensemble: real conditions

    Si + present for things that may really happen — plus s'il versus si elle, and why quand takes the future.

    • Real conditions: si + present, then the future, the present or an imperative.
    • Si tu viens, on ira ensemble. — never the future straight after si meaning if.
    • S'il / s'ils, but si elle, si on.
    • Quand and dès que pointing ahead take the future: Quand tu arriveras, appelle-moi.
    • Either half can come first: On ira ensemble si tu viens.
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  2. 2

    Si j'avais le temps: imagining the present

    Si + imparfait, then the conditional — for daydreams, advice and anything that isn't true right now.

    • Imagined present: si + imparfait, then the conditional: Si j'avais le temps, je viendrais.
    • Never the conditional straight after si: si j'avais, not si j'aurais.
    • Same endings for both; the imparfait uses the nous stem, the conditional the future stem.
    • Irregular conditional stems: ser-, aur-, ir-, fer-, pourr-, viendr-.
    • Advice: Si j'étais toi… / À ta place… + conditional.
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  3. 3

    Si j'avais su: the past that didn't happen

    The plus-que-parfait and the conditionnel passé — for regrets, what-ifs and the roads not taken.

    • Plus-que-parfait = avais / étais + participle: j'avais su, j'étais restée.
    • Conditionnel passé = aurais / serais + participle: j'aurais su, je serais restée.
    • A past that didn't happen: si + plus-que-parfait → conditionnel passé: Si j'avais su, je serais venue.
    • Same auxiliary and agreement as the passé composé; ne… pas wraps the auxiliary.
    • Regrets: j'aurais dû, j'aurais pu, j'aurais aimé — and ça aurait pu être pire.
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  4. 4

    Comme si, et si…? As if, what if, if only

    Comme si, friendly suggestions with et si, wishes with si seulement — and a past condition with a present result.

    • Comme si + imparfait (same time) or plus-que-parfait (earlier) — never the conditional.
    • Faire comme si de rien n'était — to act as if nothing had happened.
    • Et si on + imparfait…? is a friendly suggestion: Et si on allait au cinéma ?
    • Si seulement + imparfait wishes; + plus-que-parfait regrets.
    • A past condition with a present result: Si j'avais pris le train, je serais déjà à Paris.
    • Même si follows the same rules as si.
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