C1 · Conditional sentences
Conditions without si
a menos que, con tal de que, siempre que, en caso de que — and every one of them with the subjunctive.
At a glance
- Remember
- si takes the indicative — every other conditional word takes the subjunctive.
- Form
- En caso de que llueva, lo aplazamos.in case
- Signal words
- en caso de que
- a menos que
- con tal de que
- siempre que
- como
- de
- Trap
- Wrong:En caso de que llueve, nos quedamos en casa.Right:En caso de que llueva, nos quedamos en casa.
Your turn
5 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.
The form
| in case | En caso de que llueva, lo aplazamos. |
| unless | Iré, a menos que me necesites. |
| provided that | Te ayudo con tal de que me invites. |
| as long as (strict) | Firmo siempre y cuando cambien la cláusula. |
| if … then (warning) | Como no estudies, suspenderás. |
| de plus infinitive | De tener tiempo, iría. |
| gerundio | Saliendo ya, llegamos. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
Apart from si, the conditional words require the subjunctive.
Te llamo en caso de que haya algún problema.I will call you in case there is a problem.
a menos que names the only case in which the main clause does not hold.
Iremos a la playa a menos que llueva.We will go to the beach unless it rains.
como with the subjunctive at the start sounds like a warning.
Como no te des prisa, perderás el tren.If you do not hurry, you will miss the train.
de plus infinitive replaces a si-clause.
De haberlo sabido, te habría avisado.Had I known, I would have let you know.
Example sentences
Puedes quedarte con tal de que no hagas ruido.You can stay, provided you do not make any noise.
No lo sabrá nadie a no ser que tú se lo digas.Nobody will find out unless you tell them.
Siempre y cuando cumplas las normas, no habrá problema.As long as you follow the rules, there will be no problem.
De seguir así, tendremos que cerrar.If things go on like this, we will have to close.
6 more example sentences
En caso de que necesites algo, avísame.In case you need anything, let me know.
Te lo cuento con tal de que no se lo digas a nadie.I will tell you, provided you do not tell anyone.
No saldré a menos que deje de llover.I will not go out unless it stops raining.
Como vuelvas a llegar tarde, hablaré con tu jefe.If you are late again, I will talk to your boss.
Estudiando un poco cada día, aprobarás.If you study a little every day, you will pass.
De ser así, cambiaríamos de plan.If that were the case, we would change the plan.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English puts the indicative after «in case» and «unless», and Spanish si does the same, so the indicative is carried over to every conditional word: En caso de que llueve. But si is the exception, not the rule — every other conditional word takes the subjunctive: En caso de que llueva.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
si is the only conditional word that takes the indicative. The others require the subjunctive, because they set up a condition as a mere possibility: en caso de que («in case»), a menos que and a no ser que («unless»), con tal de que («provided that»), siempre que and siempre y cuando («as long as»). English has the indicative after all of them — «unless it rains» — so this is a habit to unlearn.
Each has its own shade. con tal de que names the minimum condition, often with an undertone of «as long as that much happens»: Te lo presto con tal de que me lo devuelvas. siempre y cuando is stricter and sounds like a contract. a menos que turns the condition round: the main clause holds, except in the case named.
It can be shorter without a conjunction. de plus infinitive replaces a si-clause: De haberlo sabido, no habría venido — «had I known». A gerundio can carry the condition: Saliendo ahora, llegamos a tiempo. And como with the subjunctive at the start of a sentence is a threat: Como no vengas, me enfado — «if you do not come, then …».
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