Italian Grammar Bank
FIRST CONDITIONAL IN ITALIAN
The primo periodo ipotetico (first conditional) is used in Italian to talk about real or possible situations, usually in the present or future.
These sentences express conditions and their possible outcomes. The key feature is that the condition is real and achievable, and the result is likely to happen if the condition is fulfilled.
BASIC STRUCTURE
The structure of the primo periodo ipotetico generally is:
PATTERN
Se (condition “if”) + result
In Italian, the condition or if-clause is often introduced by se (if).
The verb in the if-clause is typically in the present indicative or imperative, depending on the structure of the sentence.
The verb in the main clause can be in several tenses, such as the present indicative, future simple, or imperative, depending on the situation.
| If-clause | Main Clause | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Present Indicative + Present | Present Indicative | Habitual actions or general truths |
| Present Indicative + Future | Future | Real possibility or likely future result |
| Future + Future | Future | Future actions and their likely outcomes |
| Present Indicative + Imperative | Imperative | Giving commands or suggestions based on conditions |
PRESENT + PRESENT
This structure is used when the action in both the if-clause and the main clause are habitual, general truths, or situations that happen regularly in the present.
| Se mangio troppo, sto male. | If I eat too much, I feel sick. |
| Se piove, scivola per strada. | If it rains, the street gets slippery. |
| Se lavori tanto, guadagni di più. | If you work a lot, you earn more. |
| Se studi ogni giorno, migliori. | If you study every day, you improve. |
| Se parlo con lui, risponde sempre gentilmente. | If I speak with him, he always answers kindly. |
In these examples, the condition and result are both regular actions in the present.
PRESENT + FUTURE
In this structure, the if-clause is in the present indicative, and the main clause is in the future simple.
This is used to express a situation where the result is expected to happen in the future if the condition is met in the present.
| Se vado al supermercato, compro il latte. | If I go to the supermarket, I will buy the milk. |
| Se mangi troppo, ti sentirai male. | If you eat too much, you will feel sick. |
| Se studiamo per l’esame, passeremo l’esame. | If we study for the exam, we will pass it. |
| Se loro vengono, parleranno con il direttore. | If they come, they will speak with the director. |
| Se arrivi in ritardo, perderai l’incontro. | If you arrive late, you will miss the meeting. |
In these sentences, the condition (in the present) leads to a probable result in the future, expressed with the future tense.
FUTURE + FUTURE
In this structure, both the if-clause and the main clause are in the future simple.
This structure is used to express a condition in the future and a result that is expected to happen at the same time or later in the future.
| Se parlerò con lui, gli dirò tutto. | If I talk to him, I will tell him everything. |
| Se andremo al cinema, vedremo un bel film. | If we go to the cinema, we will watch a good movie. |
| Se studiaranno di più, supereranno l’esame. | If they study more, they will pass the exam. |
| Se arriveranno presto, cominceranno subito. | If they arrive early, they will start immediately. |
| Se pazienteranno, troveranno una soluzione. | If they are patient, they will find a solution. |
In this case, the future action in the if-clause causes a future result in the main clause.
PRESENT + IMPERATIVE
In this structure, the if-clause is in the present indicative, and the main clause uses the imperative. This is used when you want to give a command or suggestion based on a condition.
| Se hai tempo, aiutami con il progetto. | If you have time, help me with the project. |
| Se sei stanco, riposa un po’. | If you are tired, rest for a while. |
| Se vuoi il lavoro, mandami il tuo curriculum. | If you want the job, send me your CV. |
| Se parli con Maria, dille di chiamarmi. | If you talk to Maria, tell her to call me. |
| Se senti il telefono, rispondi subito. | If you hear the phone, answer immediately. |
This structure is often used in conversations when giving instructions or making requests depending on a certain condition.
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FAQS
When to use the Italian first conditional?
The first conditional is used to express real or likely situations in the future that depend on a specific condition. It often translates to “If… will…” in English.
What is the typical sentence structure?
The typical structure is:
Se + present indicative, future simple
Example: Se studi, passerai l’esame. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)
Can I invert the clauses in a first condition sentence?
Yes, you can place the main clause before the “se” clause.
For example: Passerai l’esame se studi.
The meaning remains the same.
Do I always need the future tense in the main clause?
Yes, when referring to future outcomes, the main clause typically uses the futuro semplice even if English uses the present.
Example: Se piove, non usciremo. (If it rains, we won’t go out.)
Can I use “se” with the subjonctive?
No, the subjunctive is not used in first conditional sentences.
he present indicative is used after se, not the subjunctive.
Can I learn Italian with LTL?
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