| More common tense combinations | |||
| TENSE | English form | Spanish form | Meaning |
| CONDITION CLAUSE | |||
| Present simple | If I |
Si |
This hasn't happened yet, but it is quite possible that it will happen. (= Maybe I will see something I like.) |
| Past simple (subjunctive) | If I |
Si |
This doesn't usually happen. (= I don't take much exercise.) |
| Past perfect (subjunctive) | If you |
Si |
This didn't happen. (= You didn't take my advice.) |
| RESULT CLAUSE | |||
| Present simple | If you pour lemon juice on limestone, bubbles |
Si echas zumo de limón en caliza se |
This is what always/usually/often/sometimes/never/etc happens. (= bubbles form.) |
| Future simple | If I see Mary I |
Si veo a Mary le |
This is what I promise to do. (= I promise to give her your regards.) |
| Future simple | If doesn't rain soon the drought |
Si no llueve pronto la sequía |
This is what I predict will happen. (= The harvest will probably be destroyed.) |
| Simple conditional | If I had more money I |
Si tuviera más dinero me |
This is not going to happen. (= I am not going to buy a more expensive dress, because I do not have more money.) |
| Perfect conditional | If I had seen the spider, I |
Si hubiera visto la araña me |
This didn't happen. (= I did not feel terrified because I did not see the spider.) |
| Less common tense combinations | |||
| CONDITION CLAUSE | |||
| TENSE | English form | Spanish form | Meaning |
| Present continuous | If they |
Si |
It is possible this is happening now. (= Maybe they are studying.) |
| Present perfect | If you |
Si |
It is possible this has already happened (= Maybe you have already packed your suitcase.) |
| Present perfect continuous | If they |
Si me |
It is possible this has been happening recently. (= Maybe they have been stealing my apples.) |
| Past continuous | If you |
Si |
This is not happening now. (= You are not paying attention). |
| Past perfect continuous | If you |
Si |
This wasn't happening. (= You weren't watching the pot). |
| RESULT CLAUSE | |||
| TENSE | English form | Spanish form | Meaning |
| Modal verbs (requests, suggestions, invitations, obligation, possibility, etc.) | If you run a fever, you |
Si te da fiebre |
This is what you should do. (= I advise you to see a doctor.) Other modal verbs: must, can, could, might, may, ought to, etc. |
| Perfect modal verbs (regrets, reproach, past possibility, etc.) | If I had treated her more kindly, she |
Si la hubiera tratado con más amabilidad |
This didn't happen. (= I regret what I did, because she didn't accept my offer.) |
| MIXED COMBINATIONS | |||
| Simple past + past perfect | If I were rich, I would have bought that dress yesterday. | Si fuera rica, me habría comprado ese vestido ayer. | The condition refers to the present, the result to the past. |
| Past perfect + simple conditional | If you had apologised to her yesterday, she wouldn't be still angry at you. | Si le hubieras pedido perdón ayer, no estaría todavía enfadada contigo. | The condition refers to the past, the result to the present. |
| Simple past + modal verb | If you enjoyed the fish last week, I can grill some salmon tomorrow. | Si te gustó el pescado la semana pasada, te puedo hacer salmón a la plancha mañana. | The condition refers to a real past event, the result is an offer (it refers to the future). |
| Etc. (there are many mixed combinations like these; they can all be translated literally into Spanish). | |||
© Juan José Castaño