Español — Real conditionals
When a condition is possible or likely, Spanish uses "si" + present indicative in the "if" clause, and a present, future, or imperative in the main clause: Si llueve, no salgo / saldré / no salgas.
How it works
The "si" clause never takes the future or the conditional: after "si" you use the present indicative (Si llueve…). The main clause chooses the mood by intention — present for a habitual/general result (no salgo), future for a prediction (saldré), or imperative for advice or an order (no salgas). Either clause may come first: No salgo si llueve = Si llueve, no salgo.
Examples
| Condition (si + present) | Main clause | Mood / use |
|---|---|---|
| Si llueve, | no salgo. | present — habitual result |
| Si llueve, | no saldré. | future — prediction |
| Si llueve, | no salgas. | imperative — advice/order |
| Si estudias, | apruebas el examen. | present — general truth |
| Si tienes tiempo, | te llamaré. | future — plan/promise |
| Si tienes hambre, | come algo. | imperative — instruction |
Good to know
Never say *Si lloverá or *Si llovería. The future and the conditional are barred from the "si" clause: write Si llueve, saldré, not *Si lloverá, saldré. Also do not confuse "si" (if) with "sí" (yes) — only the second carries an accent.