Real si-clauses: conditions the speaker still treats as possible

CEFR B1

What you will learn

Build a real condition with si plus present indicative.
Choose a present, future-oriented or imperative result that follows from the stated condition.
Keep future forms and the conditional mood out of the real si-clause and distinguish conditional si from interrogative si meaning whether.

The idea

A real conditional links a condition the speaker treats as possible with its consequence: “Si hay entradas, vamos al concierto.” It does not claim that tickets exist; it keeps that possibility open. At this level the si-clause uses the indicative. Hypothetical “si tuviera” and impossible-past “si hubiera tenido” patterns belong to the B2 inventory and are deliberately deferred.

Spanish presents the condition with a present form even when it refers to tomorrow: “Si mañana nieva, nos quedaremos en casa.” The future belongs to the consequence, not directly after conditional si.

The result need not be future. It can state a general effect, a current plan, permission, obligation or an instruction.

Complete B1 real-conditional pattern

si-clause	result	function	model
si + present indicative	present indicative	regular result or general relation	Si descanso, trabajo mejor.
si + present indicative	ir a + infinitive	plan	Si acaba pronto, vamos a salir.
si + present indicative	future	prediction or consequence	Si queda sitio, entraremos.
si + present indicative	imperative	instruction	Si ves a Nora, llámame.
si + present indicative	modal + infinitive	possibility or obligation	Si tienes la clave, puedes entrar.

How it sounds

Si llega el paquete y la oficina está cerrada, déjalo en recepción.Arrival remains a possible future condition, so the si-clause uses present indicative. The result is an instruction, so it uses an imperative. The instruction only applies if the condition is met.

Three cause-and-result pairs show rain leading to an umbrella, exactly two keys leading to an open door, and a red pedestrian signal leading to stopped footprints. — Each left-hand condition leads to one practical result while remaining a real possibility.

Your turn

Two or three, to check that the bit above landed.

Use this image
Use the rain and umbrella pair. Si mañana ___ mal tiempo, llevaremos paraguas. (hacer)
hace — This is an open future condition, so the si-clause uses present indicative: hace. The future form remains in the result.
Use this image
Use the two keys and the door. Si encuentras las dos llaves, ___ la puerta. (abrir, tú)
abre — The condition uses present indicative encuentras. The result is an affirmative tú instruction, so abrir becomes abre.
Use this image
Use the red pedestrian signal. Si el semáforo está en rojo, no ___. (cruzar, tú)
cruces — The result is a negative tú command, so it uses present subjunctive: no cruces.

What your own language pushes you to say

Wrong Si mañana lloverá, no salimos.

Right Si mañana llueve, no salimos.

Tomorrow does not force a future form inside the condition. Present indicative marks the open condition.

Once it makes sense

The present tense: three endings and you can talk The imperative: choose the addressee, polarity and regional form Future choices and conditional wishes