The Magic Word in French: How to use "SI" (What If!) 🪄

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]You want to make hypotheses in French, then just learn the magical word si. But be careful, depending on the tenses that you use after si, the meaning can totally changes. If you use the present after si, then the next sentence, which is the hypothetic situation, needs to be in the future tense. And it is used to talk about a real or a possible situation in the future. For example, si j'ai le temps, je viendrai or si tu étudies, tu réussiras. If after si, you use the imperfect tense, imparfait, then the hypothetic situation needs to be in the conditional present. And it is used to talk about an imaginary or an unreal situation in the present. For example, si j'avais plus d'argent, je voyagerais or si tu parlais français, tu comprendrais cette vidéo. Third situation is if you use the pluperfect tense after si, then the hypothetic situation needs to be in the conditional past. And it is used to talk about a situation that didn't happen in the past. For example, si j'avais étudié, j'aurais réussi or si on avait su, on ne serait pas venu. But sometimes after si plus present, you can use either the present tense again or the imperative.

[00:01:16]If you use the present tense again, it would be like a general truth. For example, si tu veux des bonnes notes, tu dois étudier or if you use the imperative tense after si plus present, then it is more like a recommendation.

[00:01:29]For example, si tu veux des bonnes notes, étudie or si tu vas à la plage, mets de la crème solaire. Now it's your turn. Try to write a sentence with si and then any tense. And if you want more content like that, please don't forget to subscribe. And we have new sessions starting every month, so if you want to know more about it, leave us a message.