Conditional Sentences
In French, there are different types of conditional sentences, depending
on the probability of the main action. In this lesson, we are going
to look at the three different types.
A) When it is probably that the main action will be carried out.
In this case, the verb which indicates the conditon goes in the present
simple and the main verb goes in the future.
Si j'étudie, je réussirai
les examens |
If I study I will pass the exams
(I can study and then pass the exams) |
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|
S' il est ici, il viendra avec
nous |
If he is here, he will come
with us (maybe he is here and therefore can come with us) |
B) When the possibility of the main action happening is reduced.
In this case the verb that indicates the condition goes in the imperfect
and the main verb goes in the present conditional.
Si j'étudiais, je réussirais
les examens |
If I studied, I would pass the
exams (as I don't study, the probability that I pass the exams
is reduced) |
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|
S' il était ici, il viendrait avec
nous |
If he were here, he would come
with us (but it is more than likely that he is not here and
therefore he can't come with us) |
C) When there is NO possibility of the main action happening. The
verb that indicates the condition goes in the past perfect and the
main verb goes in the past conditional.
Si j'avais étudié, j'aurais
réussi les examens |
If I had studied, I would have
passed the exams (but I didn't so I failed ) |
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|
S' il avait été ici, il serait
venu avec nous |
If he had been here, he would
have come with us (but he wasn't here, so he couldn't come with
us) |
VOCABULARY
les délits
Robbery |
Vol (m) |
Slander |
Calomnie (f) |
Robbery |
Larcin (m) |
Thief |
Voleur (m) |
Homicide |
Homicide (m) |
Detective |
Détective (m) |
Murder |
Assassinat (m) |
To acquit |
Absoudre |
Kidnapping |
Rapt (m) |
Appeal |
Appel (m) |
Rape |
Violation (f) |
Jail |
Geôle (f) |
To catch |
Cacher |
Cell |
Cellule (f) |
Condenm |
Condamnation (f) |
Attempt |
Attentat (m) |
Prision |
Prison (f) |
Vandalism |
Vandalisme (m) |
Rip off |
Escroquerie (f) |
Smuggling |
Contrebande (f) |
Blackmail |
Chantage (m) |
Fraudster |
Escroc (m) |