French grammar
Si + plus-que-parfait, + conditionnel passé
Say what would have happened if things had been different, using si + plus-que-parfait, conditionnel passé.
From the scene Si je l'avais su… (If I had known…)
In short
Unreal past: si + plus-que-parfait, then the conditionnel passé: si je l'avais su, je serais venue plus tôt.
Your turn
Which one goes with I would have come (woman)?
Options: je serais venue · si je l'avais su · si j'avais apporté
Show answer
I would have come (woman) → je serais venue
How it works
To imagine a past that could have been different.
Good to know
Si + plus-que-parfait (avais / avait + participle) sets the unreal condition, and the conditionnel passé (aurais / serais + participle) gives the imagined result: si je l'avais su, je serais venue plus tôt.
Good to know
Verbs of movement like venir take être, and the participle agrees: Elena → venue.
if I had known si je l'avais su
Elena
Non. Si je l'avais su, je serais venue plus tôt.
No. If I had known, I would have come earlier.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Non. (blank), je serais venue plus tôt.
Options: J'aurais pris · Si je l'avais su · Si j'avais apporté
Show answer
Elena
Non. Si je l'avais su, je serais venue plus tôt.
No. If I had known, I would have come earlier.
I would have come (woman) je serais venue
Elena
Si je l'avais su, je serais venue en groom !
If I had known, I would have come as a bellboy!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Si je l'avais su, (blank) en groom !
Options: je serais venue · si j'avais apporté · j'aurais pris
Show answer
Elena
Si je l'avais su, je serais venue en groom !
If I had known, I would have come as a bellboy!
if I had brought si j'avais apporté
Elena
Non. Si j'avais apporté l'appareil, j'aurais pris mille photos.
No. If I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Non. (blank) l'appareil, j'aurais pris mille photos.
Options: Si j'avais apporté · Si je l'avais su · Je serais venue
Show answer
Elena
Non. Si j'avais apporté l'appareil, j'aurais pris mille photos.
No. If I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos.
I would have taken (photos) j'aurais pris (des photos)
Elena
Non. Si j'avais apporté l'appareil, j'aurais pris mille photos.
No. If I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Non. Si j'avais apporté l'appareil, (blank) mille photos.
Options: j'aurais pris · si je l'avais su · je serais venue
Show answer
Elena
Non. Si j'avais apporté l'appareil, j'aurais pris mille photos.
No. If I had brought the camera, I would have taken a thousand photos.
Common mistake
Not aurais or ai here. Si + plus-que-parfait.
Non. Si je l'avais su, je serais venue plus tôt.
No. If I had known, I would have come earlier.
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 known | si je l'avais su |
|---|---|
| I would have come (woman) | je serais venue |
| if I had brought | si j'avais apporté |
| I would have taken (photos) | j'aurais pris (des photos) |
More lines from the story
- ElenaL'acteur était là il y a une heure !The actor was here an hour ago!
- JaviOui. Il y a une heure j'ai monté les valises de l'acteur.Yes. An hour ago I took the actor's bags up.
- NuriaEt vous avez apporté l'appareil photo, au cas où il reviendrait ?And have you brought the camera, in case he comes back?