🇫🇷French Conditional and Si Clauses
Stop freezing on which tense follows 'si'. Lock in the three si-clause patterns — real conditions, unreal present, and unreal past — and prove it by writing your own 'what if my life were different' sentences across all three.
Phase 1Three Patterns, One Decision
See the three si-clause patterns as one decision
Si-clauses aren't three topics — they're one likelihood scale
6 minSi-clauses aren't three topics — they're one likelihood scale
Real conditions: présent triggers futur
6 minReal conditions: présent triggers futur
Unreal now: imparfait triggers conditionnel
7 minUnreal now: imparfait triggers conditionnel
Unreal past: plus-que-parfait triggers conditionnel passé
8 minUnreal past: plus-que-parfait triggers conditionnel passé
Phase 2Drilling Each Pattern Until It Fires
Drill each pattern until the tense pairing fires automatically
Pattern 1 reps: build the présent → futur reflex
7 minPattern 1 reps: build the présent → futur reflex
Pattern 2 reps: imparfait left, conditionnel right
7 minPattern 2 reps: imparfait left, conditionnel right
Pattern 3 reps: chain four auxiliary words to a participle
8 minPattern 3 reps: chain four auxiliary words to a participle
Pick the pattern before you reach the verb
8 minPick the pattern before you reach the verb
The twelve irregular stems that gate every si-clause
8 minThe twelve irregular stems that gate every si-clause
Phase 3Mixed Conditionals and Si in the Wild
Read mixed conditionals and stylistic variations in the wild
Past condition, present consequence — the mixed pattern
7 minPast condition, present consequence — the mixed pattern
Si in the wild — when the rules bend
7 minSi in the wild — when the rules bend
Si is hypothetical, quand is scheduled
6 minSi is hypothetical, quand is scheduled
Flip the clauses, keep the pattern
6 minFlip the clauses, keep the pattern
Phase 4Your 'What If' Across All Three
Write your 'what if my life were different' across all three
Write your 'what if my life were different' across all three patterns
8 minWrite your 'what if my life were different' across all three patterns
Frequently asked questions
- Why does French never use the conditional after 'si' in a si-clause?
- This is covered in the “French Conditional and Si Clauses” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- What's the difference between si + imparfait and si + plus-que-parfait?
- This is covered in the “French Conditional and Si Clauses” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- How do I know which si-clause pattern to use in a given sentence?
- This is covered in the “French Conditional and Si Clauses” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- What is a mixed conditional in French and when does it appear?
- This is covered in the “French Conditional and Si Clauses” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- Why do French si-clauses feel like three separate grammar topics stapled together?
- This is covered in the “French Conditional and Si Clauses” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
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