French grammar
Si j'avais…, j'achèterais…
Talk about dreams and what you would do.
From the scene Si j'avais de l'argent... (If I had money...)
In short
Imagined situations: si + imparfait, then the conditional. Si j'avais de l'argent, je voyagerais.
- if I had si j'avais
- if I were si j'étais
- I would travel je voyagerais
- I would buy j'achèterais
Your turn
Which one goes with if I were?
Options: je voyagerais · si j'étais · si j'avais
Show answer
if I were → si j'étais
How it works
For imagined situations: si + the imparfait (si j'avais, si j'étais), then the conditional, the "would" form.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Si tu (blank) beaucoup d'argent, que ferais-tu ?
Options: avais · as · aurais
Show answer
Si tu avais beaucoup d'argent, que ferais-tu ?
If you had lots of money, what would you do?
Good to know
For most verbs it is the infinitive + -ais / -ait: voyager → je voyagerais. Never put the conditional right after si.
Good to know
Si j'avais de l'argent, je voyagerais = if I had money, I would travel.
if I had si j'avais
if I were si j'étais
Javi
Si j'étais riche, je ne travaillerais pas.
If I were rich, I wouldn't work.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) riche, je ne travaillerais pas.
Options: Je voyagerais · Si j'étais · Si j'avais
Show answer
Javi
Si j'étais riche, je ne travaillerais pas.
If I were rich, I wouldn't work.
I would travel je voyagerais
Javi
Moi, je voyagerais partout dans le monde.
I would travel all around the world.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Moi, (blank) partout dans le monde.
Options: si j'étais · je voyagerais · si j'avais
Show answer
Javi
Moi, je voyagerais partout dans le monde.
I would travel all around the world.
I would buy j'achèterais
Nuria
J'achèterais un appartement avec ascenseur.
I would buy a flat with a lift.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) un appartement avec ascenseur.
Options: J'achèterais · Si j'avais · Si j'étais
Show answer
Nuria
J'achèterais un appartement avec ascenseur.
I would buy a flat with a lift.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| if I had | si j'avais |
|---|---|
| if I were | si j'étais |
| I would travel | je voyagerais |
| I would buy | j'achèterais |
More lines from the story
- JaviSi tu avais beaucoup d'argent, que ferais-tu ?If you had lots of money, what would you do?
- ElenaEnfin... je m'achèterais des jumelles.Well... I'd buy some binoculars.
- ElenaMoi, je ne ferais rien de différent. J'ai ma fenêtre.I wouldn't do anything different. I have my window.