Sequence of Tenses with "si"
Si is usually only followed by 1) the present tenses 2) the inperfect subjunctive or 3) the pluperfect subjunctive.
It is only really followed by the future tense in the expression "I wonder if....." eg. I wonder if he will play
me pregunto si jugará.
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It is worth learning the following "formulae" to use the correct tense for the first and second verb:
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si + present indicative + future
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si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional
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si + pluperfect subjunctive + conditional perfect
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Examples:
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Si mi hermano viene a la fiesta estaré contento *
Si el gobierno cambia esta ley habrá muchas protestas
Si decides ir te acompañaré
Si mi hermano viniera a la fiesta estaría contento*
Si fuera (fuese) rico compraría una casa allí
Si no hubiera (hubiese) tantos problemas todo sería más fácil
Si mi hermano hubiese (hubiera) venido a la fiesta habrá estado contento*
Si hubieses (hubieras) escuchado mejor habrías tenido éxito
Si hubiesen ido al extranjero ¡lo habrían pasado bomba!
Note 1: If you consider the sentences above with the * the tense sequencing is as English
If my brother comes to the party I will be happy (If + present + future)
If my brother were to come to the party I would be happy (If + imperfect subjunctive + conditional)
If my brother had come to the party I would have been happy (If + pluperfect subjunctive + conditional future)
Note2 : with the pluperfect construction the conditional perfect is sometimes replaced with the imperfect subjunctive form of haber
Si hubiese jugado hubiera ganado mucho
Note 3:
The "formula" might be inverted
Future +si + present indicative
Conditional + Si + imperfect subjunctive
Conditional perfect + si + pluperfect subjunctive
Ganaremos si jugamos hoy
Iria verte si me llamaras
Habria acabado si hubiera tenido mas tiempo libre
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Try these exercises:
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