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Future & Conditional

Si-clauses: real, possible, and hypothetical conditions

Intermediate

French si-clauses (if-clauses) follow three fixed tense patterns depending on how real or hypothetical the condition is. For a real, likely condition, si + present pairs with a future or present result: si tu viens, je serai content (if you come, I will be happy).

For a hypothetical or unlikely present condition, si + imparfait pairs with the conditionnel présent: si j'avais plus de temps, je voyagerais davantage (if I had more time, I would travel more). For an unreal past conditionsomething that didn't happensi + plus-que-parfait pairs with the conditionnel passé: si j'avais su, je serais venu (if I had known, I would have come). Crucially, si is never directly followed by a future or a conditionnel tense, even though the result clause often is.