Spanish grammar
Conditions for business plans: si + present vs si + imperfect subjunctive
Talk about starting a business, with real and hypothetical conditions.
From the scene ¿Y si abrimos un café? (What if we open a café?)
In short
Real: si + present, then present or future. Hypothetical: si + imperfect subjunctive, then conditional.
Your turn
Which one goes with if Marisa makes the cakes, the queue will…?
Options: si lo alquiláramos, abriríamos un café · si tuviera ahorros, invertiría · si Marisa hace los pasteles, la cola llegará…
Show answer
if Marisa makes the cakes, the queue will… → si Marisa hace los pasteles, la cola llegará…
How it works
Si + present tense is for a real possibility, and the result goes in the present or future (si Marisa hace los pasteles, la cola llegará…).
Good to know
Si + imperfect subjunctive is for something hypothetical or unlikely, and the result goes in the conditional (si lo alquiláramos, abriríamos un café).
Good to know
Never use the present subjunctive after si.
if we rented it, we would open a café si lo alquiláramos, abriríamos un café
Tomás
Si lo alquiláramos, Marisa y yo abriríamos un café.
If we rented it, Marisa and I would open a café.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), Marisa y yo abriríamos un café.
Options: Si lo alquiláramos · La cola llegará · Si tuviera ahorros
Show answer
Tomás
Si lo alquiláramos, Marisa y yo abriríamos un café.
If we rented it, Marisa and I would open a café.
if Marisa makes the cakes, the queue will… si Marisa hace los pasteles, la cola llegará…
Nuria
Si Marisa hace los pasteles, la cola llegará hasta la plaza.
If Marisa makes the cakes, the queue will reach the square.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) hasta la plaza.
Options: Si tuviera ahorros, invertiría · Si Marisa hace los pasteles, la cola llegará · Si lo alquiláramos, abriríamos un café
Show answer
Nuria
Si Marisa hace los pasteles, la cola llegará hasta la plaza.
If Marisa makes the cakes, the queue will reach the square.
if I had savings, I would invest si tuviera ahorros, invertiría
Javi
Si yo tuviera ahorros, invertiría ahora mismo.
If I had savings, I would invest right now.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Si yo tuviera ahorros, (blank) ahora mismo.
Options: si lo alquiláramos · la cola llegará · invertiría
Show answer
Javi
Si yo tuviera ahorros, invertiría ahora mismo.
If I had savings, I would invest right now.
a business partner un socio
Your turn
What goes with un socio?
Options: if Marisa makes the cakes, the queue will… · a business partner · if we rented it, we would open a café
Show answer
un socio → a business partner
to start a business emprender
Nuria
Emprender da miedo, pero si no lo intentáis, nunca lo sabréis.
Starting a business is scary, but if you don't try, you'll never know.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) da miedo, pero si no lo intentáis, nunca lo sabréis.
Options: Emprender · Si lo alquiláramos · La cola llegará
Show answer
Nuria
Emprender da miedo, pero si no lo intentáis, nunca lo sabréis.
Starting a business is scary, but if you don't try, you'll never know.
Common mistake
Not intentéis or intentaréis here. Vosotros (Tomás and Marisa).
Emprender da miedo, pero si no lo intentáis, nunca lo sabréis.
Starting a business is scary, but if you don't try, you'll never know.
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 we rented it, we would open a café | si lo alquiláramos, abriríamos un café |
|---|---|
| if Marisa makes the cakes, the queue will… | si Marisa hace los pasteles, la cola llegará… |
| if I had savings, I would invest | si tuviera ahorros, invertiría |
| a business partner | un socio |
| to start a business | emprender |
More lines from the story
- TomásCafé, fruta y pasteles. Todo en el mismo negocio.Coffee, fruit and cakes. All in the same business.
- TomásCon el bebé en camino, es ahora o nunca.With the baby on the way, it is now or never.