Si tu viens, nous irons au cinéma.
English: If you come, we will go to the cinema.
- Language
- French
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Modes subjonctif et conditionnel
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Hypothetical structures in French are used to talk about situations that are imaginary, unreal, or possible only under certain conditions.
When to use it
Use these structures in French to express possibilities, give advice, imagine alternative outcomes, or talk about things that did not happen.
Key forms
- Si + présent, futur simple
- Si + imparfait, conditionnel présent
- Si + plus-que-parfait, conditionnel passé
Examples
Si j'avais de l'argent, j'achèterais une voiture.
English: If I had money, I would buy a car.
Si elle avait su, elle serait venue.
English: If she had known, she would have come.
Si nous avions étudié, nous aurions réussi l'examen.
English: If we had studied, we would have passed the exam.
Tips
- Never use 'si' with the future tense right after it (e.g., not 'si tu viendras').
- Pay attention to the correct tense combination: present with future, imparfait with conditional, plus-que-parfait with past conditional.
- Do not use 'conditionnel' immediately after 'si'.