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The Subjunctive-Indicative Distinction (S/I)
 
  SUBJUNCTIVE/INDICATIVE IN SI CLAUSES: INTRODUCTION (Exercises)  
 
  • Si clauses differ from other subordinate clauses in that, despite the fact that si... (if...) suggests uncertainty, etc., the present subjunctive is never used in a si clause, regardless of the degree of doubt.
  • The imperfect subjunctive and the pluperfect subjunctive are used in si clauses (see examples below).
  • The si clause and the main clause can occur in either order (see examples below).
  • Three basic patterns involving si clauses are presented below..
 
 
  • Patterns in si-Clause Sentences
    1. Sentences of the pattern Si + present indicative ... future describe events that will happen under certain circumstances:
      • Si le hablo a José en inglés, contestará en español. If I speak to José in English, he'll answer in Spanish.
      • Iremos a ese restaurante si todos quieren. We'll go to that restaurant if everyone wants to.
    2. Sentences of the pattern Si + imperfect subjunctive ... conditional say what would happen under certain hypothetical circumstances that are not currently true, and may be possible, unlikely or impossible3:
      • Si bebiera tres tazas de café, no podría dormir. If I drank three cups of coffee, I wouldn't be able to sleep.
      • Si fuera rico, no tendría que trabajar. If I were rich, I wouldn't have to work.
      • Podríamos volar si tuviéramos alas. We could fly if we had wings.
    3. Sentences of the pattern Si + pluperfect subjunctive ... conditional perfect say what would have happened if past events had been different from what they actually were:
      • Si hubiéramos ido al centro, habríamos visto a Julia. If we had gone downtown, we would have seen Julia.
      • Si hubiera aceptado ese puesto, habría podido jubilarme hace cinco años. If I had accepted that position, I would have been able to retire five years ago.
  
  THE THREE PATTERNS APPLIED TO ONE SENTENCE  
 
 
  1. Si yo hago eso, todos se pondrán muy enojados.
    • If I do that, everyone will get very angry.
  2. Si yo hiciera eso, todos se pondrían muy enojados.
    • If I do that, everyone would get very angry.
  3. Si yo hubiera hecho eso, todos se habrían puesto muy enojados.
    • If I had done that, everyone would have gotten very angry.
  
 
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