Si j'ai le temps, je viendrai. Si tu étudies, tu réussiras. Si j'avais plus d'argent, je voyagerais davantage. Si nous gagnions au loto, nous achèterions une maison.
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GrammarB1si clauseshypothesis
Si clauses (types 1 & 2)
Les phrases hypothétiques avec si
B1fr26 min
What you'll learn
- Express realistic future conditions
- Express hypothetical/unlikely situations
- Never mismatch the tenses
Tips for this lesson
- Type 1 (realistic): si + PRESENT, ... FUTUR SIMPLE.
- Type 2 (hypothetical): si + IMPARFAIT, ... CONDITIONNEL.
- si is NEVER followed by futur or conditionnel — only présent or imparfait.
Step 1 of 6
1Reading
In context
Read. Notice si always pairs with présent or imparfait — never futur or conditionnel.
Step 2 of 6
2The pattern
The pattern — two types of hypothesis
Type 1 = realistic future condition (si + présent → futur). Type 2 = hypothetical/unlikely (si + imparfait → conditionnel).
French has two common types of "if" sentences. Type 1 (realistic, likely to happen): si + présent, ... futur simple — "si j'ai le temps, je viendrai" (if I have time, I'll come — a genuine possibility). Type 2 (hypothetical, less likely or purely imaginary): si + imparfait, ... conditionnel — "si j'avais plus d'argent, je voyagerais" (if I had more money, I would travel — a daydream, not necessarily true). The rule to burn into memory: si is never directly followed by futur or conditionnel — only présent (type 1) or imparfait (type 2). The OTHER clause (the result) is where futur/conditionnel appears.
| Type | si clause | Result clause | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (realistic) | si + présent | futur simple | si j'ai le temps, je viendrai |
| 2 (hypothetical) | si + imparfait | conditionnel | si j'avais le temps, je viendrais |
Si tu étudies, tu réussiras.
If you study, you'll succeed.
Type 1 — a realistic, achievable condition.
Si j'avais des ailes, je volerais.
If I had wings, I would fly.
Type 2 — purely hypothetical, impossible even.
Si nous gagnions au loto, nous achèterions une maison.
If we won the lottery, we would buy a house.
Type 2 — unlikely but imaginable.
S'il pleut demain, je resterai chez moi.
If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay home.
Type 1 — si → s' before il/elle/on.
Erreurs fréquentes
- Si j'aurai le temps, je viendrai.Si j'ai le temps, je viendrai.
si is NEVER followed by futur — always présent for type 1, even though the result clause is futur.
- Si j'aurais plus d'argent, je voyagerais.Si j'avais plus d'argent, je voyagerais.
si is NEVER followed by conditionnel either — always imparfait for type 2.
- Si j'ai le temps, je viendrais. (mixing type 1's si with type 2's result)Si j'ai le temps, je viendrai. (both type 1) OR Si j'avais le temps, je viendrais. (both type 2)
Don't mix a type 1 si-clause with a type 2 result (or vice versa) — the two halves must match.
Exceptions & à retenir
si + présent can also give a general truth or instruction
Si tu as faim, mange ! (If you're hungry, eat!) — the result clause can be an imperative instead of futur, still following si + présent.
A third type exists for the past (regret) — for later
Si j'avais su, je serais venu (If I had known, I would have come) uses si + plus-que-parfait → conditionnel passé — a B2 topic building on what you already know (plus-que-parfait from this level).
si can also mean 'whether', unrelated to hypothesis
Je ne sais pas si tu viendras (I don't know whether/if you'll come) — here si introduces an indirect question, not a condition, so the futur after it is completely normal (not a mismatch).
Astuces & mémo
- Memorise as a fixed formula pair: si + présent → futur (type 1); si + imparfait → conditionnel (type 2). No exceptions to these pairings.
- Ask yourself: is this genuinely likely/planned (type 1), or a daydream/unlikely scenario (type 2)? That decides which pair to use.
- si elides to s' only before il/elle/on (s'il, s'elle is rare, s'on) — never before je/tu/nous/vous.
Step 3 of 6
3Q&A drill
Type 1 or type 2?
Match each si-clause to its type based on the verb form.
- Q1si j'ai le temps...A____________
- Q2si j'avais le temps...A____________
- Q3si tu étudies...A____________
- Q4si nous gagnions au loto...A____________
Step 4 of 6
4Fill the blanks
Guided practice — complete the hypothesis
Complete each si-clause with the correct tense.
Example
Si tu (1) (étudier), tu réussiras.
→ Si tu étudies, tu réussiras.
Exercice
Si j'(1) (avoir) le temps, je viendrai.
Exercice
Si nous (2) (gagner) au loto, nous voyagerions.
Answer pool — drag onto a blank (or tap to fill the next one)
Next empty blank: 1
Step 5 of 6
5Word order
Build the sentence
Put the words in the correct order.
Example
tempssij'aileviendraije→Si j'ai le temps, je viendrai.
- Sentence 1Tap the words below to build the sentence.
- Sentence 2Tap the words below to build the sentence.
Step 6 of 6
6Speak freely
Produce it
Make two realistic (type 1) and two hypothetical (type 2) si-sentences about your life.
Ex.Si j'ai le temps ce week-end, je lirai un livre. Si j'avais un mois de vacances, je voyagerais en Asie.
- 1.Que ferez-vous si vous avez du temps libre ce week-end ?
- 2.Que feriez-vous si vous gagniez à la loterie ?
- 3.Où iriez-vous si vous pouviez voyager n'importe où ?