In a previous lesson we explored the use of conditional si clauses in questions. Since one of our new videos for the week focuses on the Spanish conditional, we think it's a great opportunity to continue exploring the topic, reviewing a couple of examples where si clauses are used in a more orthodox way.
As you know, conditional si clauses always have two parts: the condition, or si (if) clause, and the followup, which indicates what will happen if the condition is met. In these examples, the subjunctive is used in the si clauses, while the conditional (underlined) is reserved for the followup:
Bueno, si yo fuera tú, hablaría con él.
Well, if I were you, I would speak with him.
Caption 24, El Aula Azul - La Doctora Consejos: Subjuntivo y condicional
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Creo que si fuera consciente me...
I think that if I were paying attention I...
me volvería loca porque es así como muy fuerte.
I would go crazy because it's kind of really intense.
Captions 115-116, Biografía - Natalia Oreiro
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Si tuviera otra oportunidad
If I had another chance
De empezar de cero otra vez,
To start from zero again,
De vivir una nueva vida más
To live one more new life
Yo volvería a repetir
I would repeat
Y volvería a nacer
And would be born again
Captions 2-6, La habitación roja - La segunda oportunidad
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More frequently though, you will hear that speakers use the indicative for both the main clause and the si clause:
Y si le caes mal, es su problema entonces.
And if he doesn't like you, it's his problem then.
Captions 30-31, El Aula Azul - La Doctora Consejos: Subjuntivo y condicional
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It is as if the speaker assumes that the condition has, in fact, been met, and therefore uses the indicative to state both, the si clause and the main clause, as facts. Can you tell how this example would look if we were to use the conditional and the subjunctive instead of the indicative? It would look like this:
Y si le cayeras mal, sería su problema entonces.
And if he didn't like you, that would be his problem then.
Interesting, right? Let's review a few more examples using indicative:
Yo, si me los pongo, lo aguanto.
Me, if I put them on, I deal with it.
Caption 60, 75 minutos - Gangas para ricos
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Así que si quieres me esperas, si no comprendo
So, if you want, you wait for me, if not, I understand
Caption 16, Karamelo Santo - Que no digan nunca
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¡Ay, chicos, si quieren les hago tostadas!
Hey, guys, if you want, I'll make toast for you!
Caption 41, Muñeca Brava - 2 Venganza
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