Recursio
Spanish from zero with Recursio Lesson 83 of 100 · Module 17

Lesson 83. If and when: si, cuando

Step 1 · New words

10 words in this lesson

Tap 🔊 and repeat out loud. These words come back in the dialogue and the exercises below.

si
if
cuando
when (not in a question)
quedarse
to stay
aburrirse
to get bored
cansarse
to get tired
libre
free (not busy)
el tiempo libre
free time
la piscina
swimming pool
dar un paseo
to go for a walk
a tiempo
on time
Step 2 · Grammar

si + present; cuando + present

Si — “if”

In this lesson’s examples, both the si clause and the second half use the present:

  • Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa. — “If it rains, we’ll stay at home.”

English often uses will in the second half. The Spanish present can also express a plan. This is one possible pattern with si, rather than a rule for every conditional sentence. Si has no written accent; sí with one means “yes”.

Cuando — “when”

Cuando + present — what usually happens, every time:

  • Cuando tengo tiempo libre, voy a la piscina.

In a question it’s ¿cuándo? with a written accent. For now we use cuando only for what usually happens.

Verbs with se

Quedarse — “to stay”: me quedo, te quedas, nos quedamos. Don’t confuse it with quedar — “to arrange to meet” (lesson 67). Likewise aburrirse — me aburro, cansarse — me canso.

Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa. — If it rains, we'll stay at home.

Cuando tengo tiempo libre, voy a la piscina. — When I have free time, I go to the pool.

Si quieres, damos un paseo. — If you like, we can go for a walk.

Cuando estudio mucho, me canso. — When I study a lot, I get tired.

Si salimos ahora, llegamos a tiempo. — If we leave now, we'll get there on time.

Step 3 · Dialogue

Dialogue

Listen to each line and repeat it. Try to understand it before you look at the translation.

Lucía Javier, el martes tienes el día libre, ¿no? Javier, you've got Tuesday off, haven't you?

Javier Sí. Cuando tengo tiempo libre, voy a la piscina. Yes. When I have free time, I go to the pool.

Lucía ¿Vamos juntos? Si hace buen tiempo, damos un paseo después. Shall we go together? If the weather's nice, we can go for a walk afterwards.

Javier ¡Genial! ¿Y si llueve? Great! And if it rains?

Lucía Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa y vemos una película. If it rains, we'll stay at home and watch a film.

Javier Uf, cuando me quedo en casa, me aburro. Ugh, when I stay at home, I get bored.

Lucía Entonces vamos al cine. Si salimos a las cinco, llegamos a tiempo. Then let's go to the cinema. If we leave at five, we'll be on time.

Javier ¡Perfecto! El martes, piscina o cine. Perfect! Tuesday it is: the pool or the cinema.

Step 4 · Exercises

Check yourself

Listen. What did you hear?

1. How do you say “If it rains, we'll stay at home”?

2. How do you say “When I have free time, I go to the pool”?

3. How do you say “When I stay at home, I get bored”?

4. How do you say “If we leave at five, we'll be on time”?

Match each word with its translation

Build the sentence: “If it rains, we'll stay at home”

Build the sentence: “When I have free time, I read”

Lesson summary

What you can do now

  • Set a condition: Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa.
  • Say what you usually do: Cuando tengo tiempo libre, voy a la piscina.
  • Suggest: Si quieres, damos un paseo.
  • Say on time: Si salimos ahora, llegamos a tiempo.

Key phrases of the lesson:

Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa.

Cuando tengo tiempo libre, voy a la piscina.

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