Si Clauses

1. Si Clauses A useful review!

2. CONTRARY TO FACT STATEMENTS…..hmmmm??? Let’s go over the difference between a cause and effect statement and a contrary to fact statement (hypothetical one).

3. Cause and Effect Statement • Observes what is real & makes an statement about what will or will not happen given the current state of affairs. • It points out reality---therefore uses the indicative tenses. • It may be formed using the present tense in one clause to show current situation (cause), then the second half of the sentence uses the future tense to show the effect (or result).

4. Example: • You are with Lola . . . She drives badly . . . (The cause) . . . She’s driving badly . . . (The Effect) . . . You tell her . . . She’s going to get a ticket. Indicative statement: Si manejas como loca, te podrán una multa. If you drive like a maniac, they will give you a ticket.

5. Hypothetical Statement (contrary to fact one) Hypothetically, if you werenot in a car, or if your friend were not driving badly, but instead you were discussing what would,or could, happen to your friend if he or she did drive badly, you would not use either the present or the future, in Spanish or English! Instead, we would say: Si manejaras como loca, te pondríanuna multa. (imperfect subjunctive ---conditional).

6. For this sentence: Si manejaras como loca, te pondríanuna multa. (imperfect subjunctive ---conditional).This sentence is expressing a conjecture about the present. • The imperfect subjunctive was used in the “if” portion of the sentence if this hypothetical situation is in the present tense. • The conditional is used in the half that expresses the consequence.

7. Como Si – “As if” • Remember this phrase? • Como si will require the imperfect subjunctive or the pluperfect subjunctive because it introduces hypothetical statements.

8. Examples: • Trabaja como sila vida dependiera de ello. He works as if his life depended on it. Present tense ---- imperfect subjunctive • Se veía como si hubiera visto un fantasma. He looked as if he had seena ghost. Imperfect ------ pluperfect subjunctive

9. Let’s shift to Past Time • If a hypothesis is expressed in pasttime, then the corresponding perfect tense is used to express this hypothetical statement about a past circumstance that didn’t happenbut might have happened. • Construction: “if” pluperfect subjunctive (hypothetical situation) — - - - - conditional perfect (shows consequence/what would have happened but never did)

10. Now, let’s mention 2 alternatives for Imperfect subjunctive • You can use the phrase “de haber” or “a no ser por” followed by the conditional or compound conditional depending on whether the hypothesis is present or past. • Example: De no haber sido porla tormenta, el avión habría llegado a tiempo. Had it not been for the storm, the plane would have arrived on time. (would have clauses use this conditional perfect with the “no haber sido” part.

11. The conditional perfect & the pluperfect • They are used with would have statements: Si ella fuera a almorzar conmigo esta tarde, me habría llamado/hubiera llamado la semana pasada para confirmar la cita. If she were going to eat with me this afternoon, she would have called me last week to confirm the date. ** Notice that it is acceptable to use the conditional perfect or the pluperfect for this type of statement.

12. Repaso • Si + Present, Present - is used for things that happen (regularly) when a condition is met. • Note that the si in these sentences could probably be replaced by cuando (when) with little or no difference in meaning. Si +Present..present: Si llueve, no trabajamos - If it rains, we don't work

13. . Si + Present, Future - is used for events that will occur if the condition is met (in the present). Si + present, ………..future Sitengo tiempo, yo lo haré - If I have time, I will do it.

14. Si + Present, Imperative - is used to give an order dependent on the condition being met (in the present). Si + present….imperative: Sipuedes, llama mañana - If you can, call tomorrow

15. Si + imperfect subjunctive, conditional and the order of the clauses is unimportant. Si + Imperfect subjunctive, conditional Situviera dinero, iría contigo - If I had money, I would go with you.

16. Impossible Situations This construction is used when referring to something that would have happened if some condition had been met. Since the condition was not met, the result clause is impossible.

17. Si + pluperfect subjunctive, pluperfect subjunctive or conditional perfect and the order of the clauses is unimportant. Si, pluperfect subj., pluperfect subjunctive/conditional perfect: Si hubiera sabido, hubiera ido (or habría ido) contigo. - If I had known, I would have gone with you.