The real conditional (type 2)

Real conditionals in Italian: what is this?

• We use se + present + future to talk about a real, possible situation in the future.
• In English this is usually: If + present, will + verb.
• In Italian: Se + presente indicativo, futuro semplice.

Example

• Se firmi il contratto, ti trasferirai presto.
  If you sign the contract, you will move soon.

The basic pattern (and what NOT to change)

Always keep this structure:

• Part with se → present, never future, never conditional.
• Result part → normally future simple in this unit.

Correct vs wrong

• Se trovi un buon mutuo, comprerai questa casa. ✔
• Se troverai un buon mutuo, comprerai questa casa. ✘ (no future after se)
• Se trovi un buon mutuo, compreresti questa casa. ✘ (no conditional in the result here)

Word order: can I start with the result?

• You can put the condition first or the consequence first.

Both are correct:

• Se firmi il contratto, ti trasferirai presto.
• Ti trasferirai presto se firmi il contratto.

• When the sentence starts with se, Italian almost always uses a comma:

Se + condition, consequence.

Present vs future: why is the present after “se”?

• In English you say: If you sign, you will move.
• In Italian this is exactly the same logic:

• Se firmi (present), ti trasferirai (future).

Key idea

• The action in the se-clause is also in the future, but Italian uses the present form to express that.
• This is a fixed rule: after se (in real conditionals) → present, not future.

Typical mistakes to avoid

• 1. Using the future after “se”

Wrong: Se rinnoverai il contratto, l'affitto sarà più alto.

Correct: Se rinnovi il contratto, l'affitto sarà più alto.

• 2. Using the conditional after “se” in this structure

Wrong: Se rinnoveresti il contratto, l'affitto sarà più alto.

Correct: Se rinnovi il contratto, l'affitto sarà più alto.

• 3. Using the conditional in the consequence instead of the future

Wrong: Se trovi un buon mutuo, compreresti questa casa.

Correct: Se trovi un buon mutuo, comprerai questa casa.

Real conditional or something else?

Sometimes you see present + present instead of present + future.

Example (general truth):

• Se piove, resto a casa.
  If it rains, I stay at home. (habit, not one specific future event)

• In this unit you focus on specific future results → use the future in the consequence.

Example (specific future):

• Se paghi in ritardo questo mese, pagherai una penale.

Step-by-step: build your own sentence

1. Decide the condition (what must happen first?)
   Example idea: you sign the contract.
2. Put it after “se” in the present.
   → Se firmi il contratto...
3. Decide the consequence (what will happen then?)
   Example idea: you will move next month.
4. Use the future simple in the consequence.
   → ... ti trasferirai il mese prossimo.
5. Check the form:
   
   • After se → present? ✔
   • Consequence → future simple? ✔

Final sentence: Se firmi il contratto, ti trasferirai il mese prossimo.

Quick self-check: can you spot the error?

1. a) Se cercheremo un appartamento arredato, spenderemo di più.

   b) Se cerchiamo un appartamento arredato, spenderemo di più.

   • Correct: b. After se → present (cerchiamo), not future.

2. a) Se rinnovate la cucina, l'appartamento sarà più moderno.

   b) Se rinnovate la cucina, l'appartamento sarebbe più moderno.

   • Correct: a. Here you want a real future result → future (sarà), not conditional (sarebbe).

What you should pay attention to

• Form:
  • Se + present (never future, never conditional)
  • Future simple in the consequence
• Meaning:
  • Use this for real, possible future situations, not imaginary ones.
• Word order:
  • You can start with se or with the result, but keep the same tenses.
• Punctuation:
  • When the sentence starts with se, add a comma before the consequence.

If you can read your sentence and clearly see this pattern:

Se + present → future result

then you are using the Italian real conditional correctly.