Si Clauses in French (Conditional Sentences)

Si clauses, also known as conditional clauses, are used to express a condition and the result that follows from it. They allow speakers to talk about real, hypothetical, or unreal situations, depending on how likely the condition is. A sentence with si is always made up of two parts: the clause introduced by si, which states the condition, and the main clause, which expresses the result. In French, si clauses follow specific rules regarding verb tenses and moods, and mastering them is essential for expressing ideas clearly and accurately.

French si clauses work very much like if/then sentences in English because they also express a condition and a result. In both languages, one part of the sentence explains what must happen (the if condition), and the other part explains what happens as a consequence. For example, “If it rains, I will stay home” follows the same logical structure as “Si il pleut, je resterai à la maison.”

However, there is an important difference: French does not use a word equivalent to “then.” In English, “then” is often implied or optional, but it can still appear (If you study, then you will succeed). In French, the result clause is understood without any equivalent of “then”. The relationship between condition and result is shown only through sentence structure and verb tenses, not through an extra word.

In short, French si clauses are similar to English if/then sentences in meaning and logic, but they differ in form because French relies on grammar and verb tense rather than the word “then” to express the result.

The word “conditional” often causes confusion because many learners assume it always refers to the conditional verb tense e.g. would, would have in English, or conditionnel in French.
However, this is not always the case.

In grammar, the term conditional sentence does not mean a sentence that must contain the conditional tense. Instead, it refers to a sentence that expresses a condition-that is, one action or situation depends on another. So, the name conditional describes the relationship between ideas, not the verb mood used.

Why not all conditionals use the conditional tense?

Different types of conditions require different degrees of reality:

• something that is very likely
• something that is hypothetical or unlikely
• something that is impossible because it is in the past

Because of this, languages (including French and English) use different verb tenses and moods to show how realistic the condition is. Only some of these situations call for the conditional tense.

The three types of conditional sentences:

Conditional sentences are divided into three main types, based on the likelihood of the condition.

1. Likely or real conditions

• These describe situations that are possible or probable
• They usually use present or future forms
• No conditional tense is required

Example:

• Si vous étudiez, vous réussirez →  If you study, you will pass.

2. Unlikely or hypothetical conditions

• These describe situations that are imaginary or unlikely
• The result often uses the conditional tense
• This is where learners often think all conditionals must work this way

Example: Si j’avais plus de temps, je voyagerais. → If I had more time, I would travel.

3. Impossible conditions (past)

• These refer to situations in the past that did not happen
• The condition cannot be changed
• They use perfect forms and the conditional perfect

Example: Si j’avais étudié, j’aurais réussi. → If I had studied, I would have passed.

👉Important Notes: 

✔ Never use the future tense directly after si.

✔ The term conditional refers to dependency, not verb tense

✔ A sentence is conditional because one idea depends on another 

✔ Only some conditional sentences use the conditional mood

✔ The verb forms change to show how real or unreal the condition is

Formation of the Si Clause Sentences

Condition is…	Si … (If …)	(Then …)
First conditional
Potentiel(Likely)	Présent ou passé composé	Présent, futur ou impératif
Second conditional
Irréel du présent(Unlikely)	Imparfait	Conditionnel
Third conditional
Irréel du passé(Impossible)	Plus-que-parfait	Conditionnel passé

First Conditional

The first conditional is used to talk about a realistic and likely situation and the result that depends on it. It describes something that can happen or will happen if a certain condition is met. In other words, it answers this question: What will happen if something happens?

Why the name “conditional” can be confusing here. The word “conditional” in first conditional does not mean that the conditional mood (would / would have, conditionnel in French) is used.

Instead, the term refers to the fact that:

• the sentence contains a condition
• the result is dependent on that condition
  

So, the sentence is conditional because of the relationship between ideas, not because of the verb tense.

👉 Important Note: The conditional tense is NOT used in the first conditional.

Structure of the First Conditional 

The first conditional has two parts:

1) The si clause (the condition)

This clause uses:

• the present tense, or
• the present perfect
  

2) The result clause 

This clause states the condition that must be met. It can use one of three verb forms, depending on meaning:

• present tense (general result)
• future tense (future consequence)
• imperative (command or advice)
  

These verb combinations reflect real-world logic: the condition is realistic and possible, the result is expected or predictable and no hypothetical or unreal thinking is involved. Because the situation is real and likely, there is no need for the conditional mood.

Examples:

Present + Present

This structure is used to describe things that happen regularly or always when a certain condition is met. The situation is not about the future; it is about what normally happens.

In these sentences, “si” often has a meaning very close to “quand” (when). Replacing “si” with “quand” usually causes little or no change in meaning.

Examples:

• S’il fait froid, je mets un manteau. → If it is cold, I wear a coat.
• Nous mangeons à la maison si le restaurant est fermé. → We eat at home if the restaurant is closed.

• Quand il fait froid, je mets un manteau.  → When it is cold, I wear a coat.
• Nous mangeons à la maison quand le restaurant est fermé. → We eat at home when the restaurant is closed.

Present + Future

This construction is used when the condition is realistic and likely, and the result will happen in the future if the condition is fulfilled.

• The present tense follows si because it expresses the condition.
• The future tense is used in the result clause because the action has not happened yet.
  

Examples:

• Si tu arrives tôt, nous commencerons la réunion.  → If you arrive early, we will start the meeting.
• Je t’appellerai si j’ai des nouvelles. → I will call you if I have news.
  

👉 Important Note: Even though the meaning is future, French never uses the future tense after si.

Present + Imperative

This structure is used to give an order or suggestion, but only if the condition is met.
The speaker assumes that the command applies only when the condition is true.

• The present tense follows si.
• The imperative is used in the result clause.
  

Examples:

• Si tu es libre, aide-moi. → If you are free, help me.
• Prenez un parapluie si vous sortez.  → Take an umbrella if you go out.

Passé composé + Present, Future, or Imperative

In this case, the si clause uses the passé composé to show that the condition is already completed or checked before the result happens. The result clause can be:

• present (immediate result)
• future (later consequence)
• imperative (instruction)

Examples:

Passé composé + Présent

• Si elle a compris, elle peut continuer.  → If she has understood, she can continue.

Passé composé + Future

• Si nous avons terminé à temps, nous partirons plus tôt. → If we have finished on time, we will leave earlier.

Passé composé + Impérative

• Si tu as reçu le message, réponds-moi. → If you have received the message, reply to me.

• Present + Present → habits, general truths
• Present + Future → likely future results
• Present + Imperative → commands with a condition
• Passé composé + … → condition already completed

Second Conditional 

The second conditional is used to talk about a situation that is not true in the present or is unlikely to happen. It describes what would happen if a different situation existed.

In simple terms, it answers this question:  What would happen if things were different now?

As with other conditionals, the term “conditional” does not mean that the conditional tense is used everywhere in the sentence.

• The sentence is called conditional because it contains a condition.
• The conditional tense is used only in the result, not in the condition itself.

So:

• the condition is expressed with the imperfect tense
• the result is expressed with the conditional mood
  

Structure of the Second Conditional

Si + imperfect → conditional

• The si clause states the condition (something unreal or unlikely).
• The main clause states what would happen if that condition were true.
  

The order of the clauses can be reversed without changing the meaning, as long as si stays with the imperfect.

Examples: 

Si j’avais le temps, je le ferais. → If I had time, I would do it.

Je le ferais si j’avais le temps. → I would do it if I had time

• Condition: si j’avais le temps (imperfect)
• Result: je le ferais (conditional)

• Si j’étais plus organisé, je finirais mon travail à temps. → If I were more organized, I would finish my work on time.
• Je finirais mon travail à temps si j’étais plus organisé. → I would finish my work on time if I were more organized.
• Si nous habitions plus près, nous nous verrions plus souvent.  → If we lived closer, we would see each other more often.
• Nous nous verrions plus souvent si nous habitions plus près.  → We would see each other more often if we lived closer.
• Si tu parlais mieux français, tu comprendrais ce film. → If you spoke French better, you would understand this movie. 
• Tu comprendrais ce film si tu parlais mieux français. → You would understand this movie if you spoke French better.

Third Conditional

The third conditional is used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past that did not happen. It describes an imagined past and the result that would have occurred, but did not.

In simple terms, it answers this question:  What would have happened if something had been different in the past? This type of conditional is often used to express: regret, criticism or reflection on past mistakes or missed opportunities.

As with the other conditionals, the term “conditional” does not mean that the conditional tense is used throughout the sentence.

• The sentence is called conditional because it contains a condition.
• The conditional mood is used only in the result, not in the condition itself.

So:

• the condition is expressed with the plus que perfect
• the result is expressed with the conditional perfect
  

Structure of the Third Conditional

Si + plus que perfect → conditional perfect

• The si clause explains what would have had to happen in the past.
• The main clause explains what would have been possible as a result.

The order of the clauses can be reversed without changing the meaning, as long as si stays with the pluperfect.

Examples

1. Si j’avais eu le temps, je l’aurais fait. → If I had had time, I would have done it.

• Condition: si j’avais eu le temps (pluperfect)
• Result: je l’aurais fait (conditional perfect)

• Si j’avais étudié davantage, j’aurais réussi l’examen. → If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.
• J’aurais réussi l’examen si j’avais étudié davantage.→ I would have passed the exam if I had studied more.
• Si nous étions partis plus tôt, nous n’aurions pas raté le train.→ If we had left earlier, we wouldn’t have missed the train.
• Nous n’aurions pas raté le train si nous étions partis plus tôt. → We wouldn’t have missed the train if we had left earlier.
• Si tu avais écouté le professeur, tu aurais compris la leçon.→ If you had listened to the teacher, you would have understood the lesson.
• Tu aurais compris la leçon si tu avais écouté le professeur.→ You would have understood the lesson if you had listened to the teacher.

Exercises

1. Complete the sentence using the correct tense considering the one verb already given.

1. Si elle ______ étudié, elle aurait réussi.
2. Si nous partons maintenant, nous ______ à temps.
3. Si j’étais plus sérieux, je ______ mieux à l’école.
4. Si tu ______ trop de sucre, tu auras mal au ventre. (manger)
5. Si ils avaient pris le train, ils ______ arrivés plus tôt.
6. Si je sais la réponse, je ______ dire.
7. Si vous ______ vos devoirs, vous pourrez sortir. (finir)
8. Si elle était plus organisée, elle ______ mieux.
9. Si nous ______ plus tôt, nous aurions attrapé le bus. (partir)
10. Si tu écoutes le professeur, tu ______ la leçon.
11. Si j’______ vu le message, j’aurais répondu.
12. Si ils travaillent plus, ils ______ de meilleurs résultats.
13. Si elle ______ attention, elle ne serait pas tombée. (faire)
14. Si vous étiez plus calmes, vous ______ mieux.
15. Si nous avions su la vérité, nous ______ agi autrement.

2. Complète les phrases 

1. Si j’allais à la lune, ____________________________.
2. Si j’avais un souhait, ____________________________.
3. Si je n’avais qu’une semaine à vivre, ____________________________.
4. Si j’étais le président, ____________________________.
5. Si j’étais riche, ____________________________.
6. Si j’étais toi, ____________________________.
7. Si je faisais mes devoirs tous les jours, ____________________________.
8. Si j’avais étudié plus, ____________________________.
9. Si nous partions plus tôt, ____________________________.
10. Si j’avais écouté mes parents, ____________________________.
11. Si je gagnais à la loterie, ____________________________.
12. Si elle travaillait davantage, ____________________________.
13. Si nous avions su la vérité, ____________________________.
14. Si tu fais tes devoirs, ____________________________.
15. Si j’avais le pouvoir de changer le monde, ____________________________.

Answer Key

1. Complete the sentence using the correct tense considering the one verb already given.

1. Si elle avait étudié, elle aurait réussi.
2. Si nous partons maintenant, nous arriverons à temps.
3. Si j’étais plus sérieux, je travaillerais mieux à l’école.
4. Si tu manges trop de sucre, tu auras mal au ventre.
5. Si ils avaient pris le train, ils seraient arrivés plus tôt.
6. Si je sais la réponse, je la dirai.
7. Si vous finissez vos devoirs, vous pourrez sortir.
8. Si elle était plus organisée, elle réussirait mieux.
9. Si nous étions partis plus tôt, nous aurions attrapé le bus.
10. Si tu écoutes le professeur, tu comprendras la leçon.
11. Si j’avais vu le message, j’aurais répondu.
12. Si ils travaillent plus, ils obtiendront de meilleurs résultats.
13. Si elle avait fait attention, elle ne serait pas tombée.
14. Si vous étiez plus calmes, vous travailleriez mieux.
15. Si nous avions su la vérité, nous aurions agi autrement.

2. Complète les phrases 

1. Si j’allais à la lune, je prendrais beaucoup de photos. — Type 2 (Imparfait + Conditionnel présent)
2. Si j’avais un souhait, je demanderais la paix dans le monde. — Type 2
3. Si je n’avais qu’une semaine à vivre, je passerais du temps avec ma famille. — Type 2
4. Si j’étais le président, je changerais le système éducatif. — Type 2
5. Si j’étais riche, j’aiderais les pauvres. — Type 2
6. Si j’étais toi, je travaillerais plus sérieusement. — Type 2
7. Si je faisais mes devoirs tous les jours, j’aurais de meilleures notes. — Type 2
8. Si j’avais étudié plus, j’aurais réussi l’examen. — Type 3 (Plus-que-parfait + Conditionnel passé)
9. Si nous partions plus tôt, nous arriverions à l’heure. — Type 2
10. Si j’avais écouté mes parents, je ne me serais pas trompé(e). — Type 3
11. Si je gagnais à la loterie, je voyagerais autour du monde. — Type 2
12. Si elle travaillait davantage, elle réussirait mieux. — Type 2
13. Si nous avions su la vérité, nous aurions agi autrement. — Type 3
14. Si tu fais tes devoirs, tu réussiras. — Type 1 (Présent + Futur)
15. Si j’avais le pouvoir de changer le monde, je rendrais les gens plus heureux. — Type 2