While I drink my coffeeBefore you practise: rules and examples
These topics cover this set, including review questions. Open the guide and refer to it while answering.
Si: a real condition
In a real condition use present indicative after si. The result can use present, future or a command. This pattern expresses a real possibility, not a hypothetical “if … were”.
Si hace buen tiempo, iremos al parque.If the weather is good, we will go to the park.
The conditional: advice and polite questions
Add -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían to the infinitive. This softens advice, requests or questions. Common irregular stems: podr-, tendr-, vendr-, har-, dir-.
Yo probaría otra opción. ¿Podrías esperar un momento?I would try another option. Could you wait a moment?
The subjunctive after a request or proposal
Querer / pedir / necesitar / proponer que and es importante / posible que introduce a desired action, judgement or possibility. They normally take the subjunctive: start from present yo without -o, then -ar → -e-, -er / -ir → -a-. Person endings: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en or -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an. Irregular forms include sea, vaya, esté, haya, dé, sepa. Sin que also takes the subjunctive.
Espero que tengas tiempo. Podemos hablar sin que nadie nos interrumpa.I hope you have time. We can talk without anyone interrupting us.
Cuando about the future
After cuando about an event that has not happened yet use the subjunctive. Habitual actions take the indicative.
Cuando termine, saldré. Cuando termino temprano, paseo.When I finish, I will go out. When I finish early, I take a walk.
Me, te, se before a verb
In llamarse the pronoun changes with the person: me llamo, te llamas, se llama, nos llamamos, os llamáis, se llaman. Other reflexive verbs also put the pronoun before the conjugated form.
Me llamo Elena. Mi hermana se llama Ana.My name is Elena. My sister’s name is Ana.
1. Si mañana ___, nos quedamos en casa.
2. Si (yo) ___ vacaciones en agosto, iré a Lisboa.
3. Yo, en tu lugar, ___ con ella.
4. Cuando una persona paga las bebidas de todo el grupo, paga la ___.
5. Quiero hablar sin que la relación se ___.
6. El dinero que debes a otra persona es la ___.
Review from Nº3These items appeared in the previous issue. See what has changed since then.
7. Quiero que (tú) ___ a mi casa el sábado.
8. Cuando (yo) ___ a Madrid mañana, te llamo.
9. Nadie te pide que te ___.