Spanish grammar
Si tuviera…, compraría…
Talk about dreams and what you would do.
From the scene Si tuviera dinero... (If I had money...)
In short
For imagined situations, use si + tuviera or fuera, then the would form: infinitive + -ía (viajaría).
- if I had si tuviera
- if I were si fuera
- I would travel viajaría
- I would buy compraría
Your turn
Which one goes with if I were?
Options: viajaría · si fuera · si tuviera
Show answer
if I were → si fuera
How it works
For imagined situations, use si + a special past form (tuviera, fuera), then the “would” form.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Si (blank) mucho dinero, ¿qué harías?
Options: tuvieras · tienes · tendrías
Show answer
Si tuvieras mucho dinero, ¿qué harías?
If you had lots of money, what would you do?
Good to know
To make the “would” form, add -ía to the infinitive (viajaría, compraría), but a few verbs change: hacer → haría.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Si yo (blank) rico, no trabajaría.
Options: fuera · soy · sería
Show answer
Si yo fuera rico, no trabajaría.
If I were rich, I wouldn't work.
Good to know
Si tuviera dinero, viajaría = if I had money, I would travel.
if I had si tuviera
if I were si fuera
Your turn
What goes with si fuera?
Options: if I were · if I had · I would travel
Show answer
si fuera → if I were
I would travel viajaría
Javi
Yo viajaría por todo el mundo.
I would travel all around the world.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yo (blank) por todo el mundo.
Options: si tuviera · si fuera · viajaría
Show answer
Javi
Yo viajaría por todo el mundo.
I would travel all around the world.
I would buy compraría
Nuria
Me compraría un piso con ascensor.
I would buy a flat with a lift.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Me (blank) un piso con ascensor.
Options: si fuera · compraría · si tuviera
Show answer
Nuria
Me compraría un piso con ascensor.
I would buy a flat with a lift.
Common mistake
Not compro or compré here. I would… (answering ¿qué harías?).
Me compraría un piso con ascensor.
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 tuviera |
|---|---|
| if I were | si fuera |
| I would travel | viajaría |
| I would buy | compraría |
More lines from the story
- JaviSi tuvieras mucho dinero, ¿qué harías?If you had lots of money, what would you do?
- JaviSi yo fuera rico, no trabajaría.If I were rich, I wouldn't work.
- ElenaBueno... me compraría unos prismáticos.Well... I'd buy some binoculars.