French si clauses
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Tibo D.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Michael N.
28.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Célyanne C.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Our offer
Structures with Si are used to express an assumption, in other words to express conditions contrary to fact.
The sentence with si is a different clause and is always separated with a comma (,) with the main clause. There are formed as followed :
Si clause + main clause
The clause can also be switched in this case there is no need to add a comma:
Main clause + si clause
Examples:
- Si tu pars au marché, tu m'achèteras un peu de fruits. (If you go to the market, you will buy me some fruits)
- Tu m'achèteras un peu de fruits si tu pars au marché. (You will buy me some fruits some fruits if you go to the market)
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.The assumption in French
- 1.1.Examples
- 2.The Si clauses in the present
- 2.1.Examples
- 3.The Si clauses in the future
- 3.1.Expressing a fact
- 3.2.Expressing an advice or recommendation
- 3.3.Expressing a certainty
- 4.The Si clauses in the past
- 4.1.Examples
- 5.Exercises
- 5.1.Multiple choice questions about the si clauses in French
- 5.2.Fill in the blank exercise about the si clauses in French
- 5.3.Drag and drop exercise about the si clauses in French
The assumption in French
The si clauses can use 3 tenses in the French grammar : the present, the past and the future. And there is a definitive sequence of them to be followed.
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Amandine K.
30.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Georgia B. 
22.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Dean O. 
15.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Ada I. 
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Nicole P. 
30.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Marion N.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Frank V. 
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Jonathan F.
50.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Andrea A. 
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Enrique luis S.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Examples
| Temps | Examples | Traductions |
|---|---|---|
| Présent | Si je gagnais au loto, je m'achèterais une voiture de course. | (If i won the lottery, I would buy a car race) |
| Passé | Si j'avais gagné au loto, j'aurais acheté une voiture de course. | (If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car race) |
| Futur | Si je gagne au loto, j'achèterai une voiture de course. | (If I win the lottery, I will buy a car race) |
The Si clauses in the present
These clauses express a improbability with regard to the present or the future. The condition can only theocratically be met.
In general, you use it when you imagine something that cannot happen.
To make an assumption in the present, you use:
Si + imperfect + present conditional
Examples
| Si + imparfait | Conditionnel présent | Traductions |
|---|---|---|
| S'il faisait beau, | j'irais à la plage | (If it was sunny, I would go to the beach) |
| Si j'étais français, | je parlerais bien français | (If I was French, I would speak good French) |
To make a suggestion, you use si + imperfect
- Si on allait au cinéma ? (What if we go to the cinema ?)
- Si on préparait une tarte ? (What if we make a pie ?)
The Si clauses in the future
The clauses express a possibility with regard to the present or the future. In these cases, the condition is completely fulfilled.
To make an assumption in the future you use:
Si + present + future simple
| Si + présent | Futur | Traductions |
|---|---|---|
| Si je reviens à Paris, | j'irais au Ritz palace. | (If I come back to Paris, I will go to the Ritz) |
| Si je sors tôt, | je passerais chez toi. | (If I leave sooner, I'll come to see you) |
Si is never used after the future, do not confound the indirect speech that uses the future to the assumption that cannot use it.
- Elle lui demande si elle viendra avec nous. (She asks him if he will come with us)
- Je ne sais pas si je partirai. (I don't know if I'll come)
Expressing a fact
To express a fact, a generality, you use si + present + present
- Si on mange trop, on grossit. (If we eat too much, we take weight)
- Si je dors trop, j'ai mal à la tête. (If I sleep too much, I have a headache)
Expressing an advice or recommendation
To express an advice or recommendation, you use si + present + present imperative
- Si tu sors, mets ton manteau ! (If you go out, put a coat !)
- Si tu as des problèmes, appelle-moi ! (If you have any problem, call me !)
Expressing a certainty
When you want to express a certainty, you use quand + future simple
- Quand je reviendrai, j'irai à la tour Eiffel. (When I'll come back, I'll go to the Eiffel tower)
- Quand nous aurons nos notes, on partira en vacances. (When we will receive our marks, we will go on holidays)
The Si clauses in the past
These clauses express an impossibility with regard to the past. There is no way the condition can be met because the events are already over.
The assumption about the past most often expresses regret, something that is over, a situation where someone cannot go back.
To make an assumption in the past, you use:
Si + pluperfect + past conditional
Examples
| Si + plus-que-parfait | Conditionel passé | Traductions |
|---|---|---|
| Si j'avais passé mon bac, | j'aurais fait des études à l'université | (If I had done my A-level, I would have done studies at the university) |
| Si tu étais venue plus tôt, | tu aurais vu ton père | (If you had came sooner, you would have seen your father) |
Exercises
- Multiple choice questions about the si clauses in French
- Fill in the blank exercise about the si clauses in French
- Drag and drop exercise about the si clauses in French
Multiple choice questions about the si clauses in French
Fill in the blank exercise about the si clauses in French
Drag and drop exercise about the si clauses in French
Exercises
- Multiple choice questions about the si clauses in French
- Fill in the blank exercise about the si clauses in French
- Drag and drop exercise about the si clauses in French
Multiple choice questions about the si clauses in French
Fill in the blank exercise about the si clauses in French
Drag and drop exercise about the si clauses in French
What our students say
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
A. .
I am very happy with Tiska's lessons, they are well-structured and interesting. She gives some homework, so I can continue my practice after the lesson. I strongly recommend her as a teacher.
Tiska G.
Hi, I am Christin!
After training as a pastry chef and studying business administration, I traveled a lot and discovered my interest in languages. To find out more about teaching languages, I decided on further training at the Goethe Institute and completed it. During the Goethe Institute "Learn to teach German" course I was able to give individual language lessons and actively support the examination preparation for the Goethe certificate.
My lessons are needs-oriented. That means that learning goals are discussed with you and based on your level of knowledge. Whether grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation, expression or the practice of communication situations: German as a foreign and second language classes are flexible and take place in a group or one-to-one lessons with individual support and are based on your wishes and requirements. The teaching of content and topics takes place according to the respective language level. Building vocabulary, grammar and means of speaking are structured and conveyed logically building on each other. Let's get to know each other in a free trial class. I am looking forward to meeting you!
A. L.
Christin is a committed and professional German teacher with experience in teaching German face-to-face. Her teaching methods include setting learning goals with her students and giving continuous feedback. Her activities are guided by a communicative approach and she tries to teach her students german vocabulary for everyday life.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Christin E.
**Other time slots can be made available upon request. Don't hesitate to get in touch**
Native speaker from Paris with about 15 years of teaching experience. I’m well-travelled, and I’ve lived and worked in different parts of the world (Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa, Australia and a little bit in Asia).
I have a postgraduate degree (France) in Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies and I’m currently a freelance translator. I’ve previously worked at universities in France and abroad (South Africa/Australia) and have a solid experience in teaching (French Language, Literature, Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, etc.), designing courses, evaluating and guiding students, preparing students for exams/job interviews/professional presentations, managing a Language and Literature department at the university, presenting papers at academic conferences worldwide, publishing, translating and journalism. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach people with different profiles and from various backgrounds: international professionals, university students, beginner translators and teachers, high school students, retirees, travellers, francophiles, children (help with homework), etc.
Being an open-minded, flexible and patient teacher, I enjoy helping others to discover their potential and to explore it. Adapting myself to my students' needs, pace and objectives is essential for me, and designing the best way to work with each student is very stimulating and rewarding.
After the initial introductory lesson, I will design customised lesson plans that will evolve as you progress. We can also, at any time during the programme, change our working method if you wish to do so. I remain very flexible in that regard.
The learning materials will be varied, and we will choose together the themes and aspects of French language to be covered, in line with your objectives. In any case, I am very attentive in general, so please don't hesitate to make any suggestions.
Regardless of your level and objectives, I'm sure that we can find the best way possible to share and enjoy this French language adventure together.
C. E.
I have been taking classes with Priscilla for several weeks now. She makes talking really easy and I am learning a lot of expressions and vocabulary. Plus, she is friendly and welcoming, which makes the class enjoyable and fun. I highly recommend her as a French instructor.
Priscilla R.
I am French living in Lisbon in Portugal. I have lived in different countries such as England, the United States and India. It gave me some experience of learning a foreign language and teaching it.
I am passionate about different cultures and try to share my love for French culture with you in a lively way.
I adapt to the needs of the students, whether to improve their oral, written, prepare for an exam or a job interview. I prioritize the conversation to allow the student to "unblock" and have fun speaking the language. I write down the vocabulary and grammar that the student lacks to express himself.
Learning a foreign language is, in my view, above all through cultural curiosity. We want to learn a language because we want to live in the country, travel there or get to know it better. We feel attracted. It is its Culture that motivates us in our learning: music, film, text, literature, way of being and cultural differences forming "another world". This means that learning is not just about learning a list of words and grammar lessons, as is taught too often in school. Practice again and again through conversation, books, music, movies and above all the pleasure of speaking and listening.
I adapt the student's personal work according to their available time and their objective (conversation, deadline for an exam, scheduled trip, etc.).
I am at your disposal for any further information.
See you soon,
A. P.
Florence is such a joy to work with! A true expert and professional at teaching French, regardless of your level. Florence takes tremendous care in planning your personalized lesson, incredibly thoughtful and patient with her students. She also has such a warm, supportive and encouraging manner with a great sense of humor. She will have you speaking, reading and writing in perfect French much sooner than you think with her approach and highly efficient techniques; methods only a highly experienced instructor can provide. I am lucky to have found her to help me sit for academic French exams and you will feel the same way when working with her. Thank you Florence!!!
Florence F.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
Т. П.
Natalia will be really interested in you as a person, what your goals are, and motivation for you to learn the language. I liked how she was answering all my questions, were patient and positive on our lesson.
Natalia L.
Toma, your interest for the language and having learned other languages before will be very helpful for you, continue with your motivation for learning French!
I want to help people to improve the level of their chosen language.
A. .
I can’t recommend Nancy highly enough. She’s a great teacher. Very patient, flexible and personable.
Nancy C.
thanks for this Anne-Sophie. It is great to have you as a student.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
I. G.
I really enjoy my lessons with Natalia! She is a very talented teacher. So far she has helped me to improve a lot my vocabulory, grammaire and my conversational skills, in general. I like that all the time we talk in French, which is very useful if you already start from a certain language level (like my case). But also, she can explain in English , if I need. She chooses a lot of different topics for conversations, and for grammaire she uses the best learning materials which exist on the market! Thank you Natalia!
Hi Irina. Thank you very much for your comment. It has been a real pleasure to work with you these months and to see how you have improved your grammar as well as your oral and written expression. You have a very good level of French and I will help you to improve it in the way you need. See you soon!
Mabuhay! Magandang Araw! Kumusta ka? I am Rey Corañes. I am a licensed professional teacher and I have 4 years of teaching experience in teaching Filipino/Tagalog language. I have a degree in education and my specialization is teaching Filipino. Let me help you set your goals and have amazing results. Do you want to speak the common Filipino phrases? Do you want to learn how to converse with the people in the community? Do you want to master the grammar and have conversational practices? No worries, I am here to help you learn it all. So what are you waiting for? Book a lesson with me.
G. P.
Ray has been a teacher for four years. He taught Filipino in a private school for two years, while now he is working in a public school. Specialized in teaching for many years, in Rey you will find an experienced but at the same time young and creative teacher. His teaching methods will be based on the level of the student. He also delivers the lessons in an interactive and stimulating way, such as games.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Rey C.
Thank you so much for this review! I'm so overwhelmed.
Hello everyone,
My name is Ilaria, I am 30 years old, I have a post-graduate Master in Linguistic Education at the Ca'Foscari University of Venice. I currently teach Italian to foreigners online.
I gained numerous experiences abroad, I volunteered for one year in Romania, then I worked for two years in Bucharest and two in Ireland in the field of customer service for international companies.
I am a native speaker of Italian but I speak fluent English, Romanian and French.
I currently live in Bologna.
I also love fitness, sitcoms, social media (memes are my passion) and, when the crown allows it, travel.
Can't wait to hear from you! Do not hesitate to send me a message if you would like to be guided in your process of learning my beautiful language.
I have a CEDILS certification.
In the first lesson I try to get an impression of the students, their attitude, cognitive style, needs, level of exposure to the language, motivation etc. I try an inductive - conversational approach first, I plan every lesson and I provide the student with a Google Drive file, anticipating contents and activities.Mostly I tend to work on what it's best for the students (ex. some of them prefer learning tables with grammar rules, verbs etc by heart, I make them understand that this is not considered the fastest nor most efficient way generally, but if it works for them I encourage it). I always try to make them capable of learn by their own and I want them to see me as a facilitator, a guide, not "the person who owns the knowledge". I keep my students focused by constantly stimulating them, asking questions, asking them to share thoughts and formulate hypotheses. Also I always provide explanations for what I do, why I do it in a certain way and at a certain time. I also use a manual.
I often propose topics related to intercultural themes, news, environment, LGBT+ but also tv series, movies and so on, I discuss with students what they'd like to work on and I find or create from scratch activities for them.
G. P.
Ilaria is a young and motivated teacher. He personally writes the exercises to be done and uses a very innovative method for learning. It uses Google to share documents to use during the lesson, making it more fluid and effective, with the aim of facilitating the learning of its students. Learning with her is a great choice.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Ilaria V.
Thanks Giacomo!
Hello,
I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
L. S.
Katia's approach is very enjoyable and the hours go by! I am very happy with the progress I make and the material used is easy to absorb. I highly recommend Katia, she is positive, punctual and a very cheerful teacher which nowadays is not so easy to find!
Katia H.
Hello there. I am Ivan and I teach German, French and English online with great success for over 7 years. My teaching technics suit to all kind of interests and goals: personal as well as professional.
I have studied, worked and lived in the French and in the German part of Switzerland, supporting customers from different ages and countries around the world. I am currently working for two online-schools (in the UK and in China).
Additionally, teaching is my passion which makes me not only a passionated and hard-working teacher but also a flexible, dynamic and compassionate person.
Please contact me for more information and a first meeting free of charge.
Looking forward to meet you soon.
R. K.
Ivan is an excellent teacher. He adapts lessons to your needs and wishes and makes learning with him fun and enjoyable by finding material which interests you or that you might find interesting even if you didn’t know it yourself before! I have had 25 lessons with him now and my progress has been much quicker than any method, or course I have taken before. I can’t rate him highly enough! He is very punctual and is very quick to respond if I have any questions. Thank you Ivan!
Ivan E.
Hi, guys! My name is Lucia and I would like to invite you to learn Italian with me.
I am both a native speaker and a QUALIFIED teacher, as I hold a post-graduate degree in “Teaching Italian as a second language” and a national certification as teacher of Italian to not-native speaking.
My teaching method is COMMUNICATION-oriented and involves also the study of Italian culture and grammar. Indeed, as it happens in your mother language, the knowledge of spare words is not enough to get able to speak (i.e. INTERACT!) properly and conveniently.
I’ll prepare for you all teaching materials, tailoring lessons to your needs and interests, taking advantage from both the huge number of textbooks I hold and my creativity!
I offer lessons for all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced, as well as support in preparation to certification exams (I am also qualified ad examiner for the oral part of CELI).
Do not hesitate to get in contact with me to find a suitable time-slot for your trial lesson!
F. D.
Having online lessons with a teacher really helped me to keep up my study pace, and provided me with the essential opportunity to practice speaking (and 'real time' sentence building) to someone, who can also correct me on my pronunciation. On top of that, being a native speaker and current resident in Italy, Lucia also helped me to understand the cultural influences and tricks and habits of the Italian language. I liked that she could recommend a study book and also provided online excercises and assessments from the book, which she could revise as my homework. This provided both me and her with more possibility for feedback during the lessons. Lucia did not speak my native language (Dutch), but this was not a hindrance as we could communicate in English and quite quickly shift to mostly Italian instructions anyway :) The study pace was quite slow in my opinion (i.e. a quarter book lesson per online lesson), as Lucia used this time to make sure the basis was strong, before moving forward perhaps too soon. However, especially for some wider range in 'holiday-sentences' or general vocabulary it was good for me to have some additional excercises/podcasts on the side (or to move forward in the book on your own), to help me learn faster. However, especially with listening to podcasts it was really really good to have the solid (also grammar- and spellingwise) basis of the lessons with Lucia, as additional materials would otherwise never land on 'fertile ground'. The lessons are essential in moving forward with the language. Lucia herself is super nice, patient and open for questions or any input during the lessons, and her cheerfulness makes the studying all the more fun.
Lucia P.
**Other time slots can be made available upon request. Don't hesitate to get in touch**
Native speaker from Paris with about 15 years of teaching experience. I’m well-travelled, and I’ve lived and worked in different parts of the world (Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa, Australia and a little bit in Asia).
I have a postgraduate degree (France) in Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies and I’m currently a freelance translator. I’ve previously worked at universities in France and abroad (South Africa/Australia) and have a solid experience in teaching (French Language, Literature, Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, etc.), designing courses, evaluating and guiding students, preparing students for exams/job interviews/professional presentations, managing a Language and Literature department at the university, presenting papers at academic conferences worldwide, publishing, translating and journalism. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach people with different profiles and from various backgrounds: international professionals, university students, beginner translators and teachers, high school students, retirees, travellers, francophiles, children (help with homework), etc.
Being an open-minded, flexible and patient teacher, I enjoy helping others to discover their potential and to explore it. Adapting myself to my students' needs, pace and objectives is essential for me, and designing the best way to work with each student is very stimulating and rewarding.
After the initial introductory lesson, I will design customised lesson plans that will evolve as you progress. We can also, at any time during the programme, change our working method if you wish to do so. I remain very flexible in that regard.
The learning materials will be varied, and we will choose together the themes and aspects of French language to be covered, in line with your objectives. In any case, I am very attentive in general, so please don't hesitate to make any suggestions.
Regardless of your level and objectives, I'm sure that we can find the best way possible to share and enjoy this French language adventure together.
A. B.
It is a great experience to be a student of Priscilla. She is a very caring teacher, her lessons are engaging and she is a good communicator, very patient and encouraging.
Priscilla R.
Training is my passion. I like interacting with people. I am passionate about reading, watching movies, and music. I love to explore new places and have keen interest in arts and literature.I love meeting new people because every person is a whole new world you can learn from. I am also a keen reader and an enthusiastic traveller.
M. K.
Hella is a very easy-going and open-minded person. She asked me to introduce myself and was in the process of determining my level of French, which was fine. Then she introduced herself and described her teaching model, which I found to be very sensible. We have also expressed the objectives. I believe I can reach them with Hella's help. Looking forward to our next lessons!
Hella K.
Training is my passion. I like interacting with people. I am passionate about reading, watching movies, and music. I love to explore new places and have keen interest in arts and literature.I love meeting new people because every person is a whole new world you can learn from. I am also a keen reader and an enthusiastic traveller.
A. .
she have books and she knows how the delf / dalf works, she gives me some advises that i didn't find in youtube video
Hella K.