B1 · Conditional sentences
The present subjunctive never follows si
The one place in the language where it is forbidden.
The subjunctive follows almost anything that expresses uncertainty — except si in the present. Si tengo tiempo, te llamo is right; si tenga tiempo does not exist. The reason is historical and cannot be worked out, so the list is what has to be learnt.
Three forms are barred after si: the present subjunctive, the future and the conditional. Three are allowed: the present indicative for what may happen, the imperfect subjunctive for what probably will not, and the pluperfect subjunctive for what no longer can. The main clause, by contrast, takes anything at all.
English has one construction that pulls in the wrong direction here. «If I should need it», «should you need anything» puts a modal in the if-clause to mark the condition as remote. Spanish does not: it stays with the plain present, si necesito algo, and marks remoteness with the imperfect subjunctive instead, si necesitara algo.
Die Form
| open | Si tengo tiempo, te llamo. |
| open, future | Si llueve, nos quedaremos. |
| open, imperative | Si lo ves, dile que venga. |
| unlikely | Si tuviera tiempo, te llamaría. |
| no longer possible | Si hubiera sabido, habría venido. |
| forbidden | Si tenga tiempo … |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
The present subjunctive never follows si.
Si puedes, ven mañana.If you can, come tomorrow.
Neither does the future.
Si llueve, cancelamos.If it rains, we will cancel.
The main clause may carry any form.
Si terminas pronto, llámame.If you finish early, ring me.
The two halves swap freely; then the comma goes.
Te llamo si tengo tiempo.I will call you if I have time.
Woran man es erkennt
- si
- en caso de que
- siempre que
- a no ser que
- como
Beispielsätze
Si quieres, vamos juntos.If you like, we can go together.
Si no viene, empezamos sin él.If he does not come, we will start without him.
Si hace sol, comemos fuera.If it is sunny, we eat outside.
Avísame si cambias de idea.Let me know if you change your mind.
Noch 6 Beispielsätze
Si me necesitas, estoy en casa.If you need me, I am at home.
Si no te importa, prefiero quedarme.If you do not mind, I would rather stay.
Llámame si pasa algo.Call me if anything happens.
Si tienes hambre, hay comida en la nevera.If you are hungry, there is food in the fridge.
En caso de que no llegue, empezad sin mí.In case I do not get there, start without me.
Siempre que puedas, ven a vernos.Come and see us whenever you can.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
The subjunctive goes in because the condition is uncertain after all: Si tenga tiempo, te llamo. This is the one place it does not go. It is Si tengo tiempo — the indicative, although nothing is certain. A remote condition is marked one tense down, not one mood across: Si tuviera tiempo.
After si never a present subjunctive and never a future.
Jetzt selbst
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