Si Clauses - French If-Then Clauses

Likely Situations

In French, there are three constructions for expressing likely situations (the first conditional).

Present - Present

This construction is used for things that happen regularly. Note that the si in these sentences could probably be replaced by quand (when) with little or no difference in meaning.

S'il pleut, nous ne sortons pas - If it rains, we don't go out.
Nous ne sortons pas s'il pleut - We don't go out if it rains.

Si je ne veux pas lire je regarde la télé - If I don't want to read I watch TV.
Je regarde la télé si je ne veux pas lire - I watch TV if I don't want to read.

Present - Future

The present - future construction is used for events that are likely to occur. The present follows si; it is the situation that is required before the other action can take place.

Si j'ai le temps, je le ferai - If I have time, I will do it.
Je le ferai si j'ai le temps - I will do it if I have time.

Si tu étudies, tu seras intelligent - If you study, you will be smart.
Tu seras intelligent si tu étudies - You will be smart if you study.

Present - Imperative

This construction is used to give an order that is dependent on something. The present follows si; it is the situation that is required before the other action becomes a command.

Si tu peux, viens me voir - If you can, come see me.
Viens me voir si tu peux - Come see me if you can.
(If you can't, then don't worry about it.)

Si vous avez de l'argent, payez la facture - If you have money, pay the bill.
Payez la facture si vous avez de l'argent - Pay the bill if you have money.
(If you don't have money, someone else will take care of it.)

Passé composé + Present, Future, or Imperative

It is also possible to have si clauses with the passé composé followed by the present, future, or imperative. These constructions are basically the same as above; the difference is that the condition in the past rather than the present.

Si tu as fini, tu peux partir - If you have finished, you can leave.

Si tu n'as pas fini, tu me diras - If you haven't finished, [you will] tell me.

Si tu n'as pas fini, dis-moi - If you haven't finished, tell me.