Spanish grammar: oraciones condicionales reales e irreales

What this grammar point covers

In Spanish, 'oraciones condicionales reales e irreales' are conditional sentences that talk about what might happen (real) or what could have happened (unreal). They use specific verb forms to show if the condition is possible or impossible.

When to use it

Use real conditionals to talk about possible or likely situations in the present or future. Use unreal conditionals to talk about hypothetical or impossible situations, either now or in the past.

Key forms

• Si + presente de indicativo, futuro simple / imperativo (real condition)
• Si + imperfecto de subjuntivo, condicional simple (unreal/present impossible condition)
• Si + pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo, condicional compuesto (unreal/past impossible condition)

Examples

Tips

• Remember: Use the subjunctive after 'si' for unreal conditions.
• Do not use the future tense directly after 'si'.
• Pay attention to the difference between real and unreal conditions; the verb changes!

Exceptions and edge cases

• Sometimes, in spoken Spanish, people use the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive for unreal conditions, but this is not standard.