The second great home of the future subjunctive — after temporal quando clauses — is the open conditional: sentences of the form if X happens, then Y. English uses a present-indicative verb in the if-clause (if you have time, call me); European Portuguese demands the future subjunctive (se tiveres tempo, liga-me). This is possibly the single most visible grammatical mismatch between English and Portuguese, and it is where English speakers most reliably expose themselves as learners. The good news: once the pattern clicks, it produces entirely predictable, beautifully native sentences.
The three-way conditional typology
Before tackling the future subjunctive in isolation, you need the bigger picture: Portuguese has three different conditional constructions, each corresponding to a different degree of likelihood. Knowing all three at once makes each one easier to choose.
| Type | Se-clause tense | Main clause tense | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open (realistic future) | future subjunctive | present indicative / future / imperative | it might happen |
| Hypothetical (counterfactual present) | imperfect subjunctive | conditional / imperfect indicative | it isn't the case, but imagine |
| Counterfactual (past) | pluperfect subjunctive | conditional perfect | it didn't happen, and imagine the consequences |
Se tiveres dinheiro, compramos um gelado.
If you have money, we'll buy an ice cream. (open — future subjunctive)
Se tivesses dinheiro, comprávamos uma casa.
If you had money, we'd buy a house. (hypothetical — imperfect subjunctive)
Se tivesses tido dinheiro, teríamos comprado a casa.
If you had had money, we would have bought the house. (counterfactual past — pluperfect subjunctive)
The three se forms — tiveres, tivesses, tivesses tido — encode three entirely different relationships with reality. This page focuses on the first: the open conditional with the future subjunctive. The other two have their own pages.
The core pattern: se + future subjunctive, main clause open
In an open conditional, the speaker treats the if-clause as a live possibility — neither confirmed nor denied. The future subjunctive is the marker of that live possibility. The main clause can take any tense that fits the meaning: present indicative, future indicative, periphrastic future (vou + infinitive), or the imperative.
- Se tiveres tempo, liga-me. (imperative)
- Se tiveres tempo, ligas-me. (present indicative used as future)
- Se tiveres tempo, vais ligar-me. (periphrastic future)
- Se tiveres tempo, ligar-me-ás. (simple future — formal/literary)
Se tiveres tempo, passa por cá.
If you have time, drop by.
Se quiseres, posso ajudar-te.
If you want, I can help you.
Se eu puder, venho cedo.
If I can, I'll come early.
Se chover, ficamos em casa.
If it rains, we'll stay home.
Se precisares de alguma coisa, diz.
If you need anything, say so.
Why this is hard for English speakers
English uses the present indicative in if-clauses referring to the future: if you have time, call me. There is no grammatical marker of the future-ness; the listener infers it from context. Portuguese refuses to leave that inference to the listener — the verb itself marks it.
The result: English speakers default to se + present indicative in Portuguese because it looks like a one-to-one translation. It isn't.
❌ Se tens tempo, passa por cá.
Incorrect — the future subjunctive is required here. (This would only be acceptable as a statement of current general fact, not a live invitation.)
✅ Se tiveres tempo, passa por cá.
If you have time, drop by.
The wrong version, se tens tempo, reads to a Portuguese speaker as if you were saying "given that you have time" — a bizarre way to offer an invitation. The future subjunctive se tiveres reads correctly as "in the scenario where you have time."
Form reminder
A quick reminder, since this page focuses on usage. The future subjunctive is built on the preterite third-person plural stem. For common irregular verbs:
| Verb | Preterite 3pl | Future subj. stem | tu form |
|---|---|---|---|
| ter | tiveram | tiver- | tiveres |
| ser / ir | foram | for- | fores |
| estar | estiveram | estiver- | estiveres |
| fazer | fizeram | fizer- | fizeres |
| poder | puderam | puder- | puderes |
| querer | quiseram | quiser- | quiseres |
| saber | souberam | souber- | souberes |
| vir | vieram | vier- | vieres |
| dizer | disseram | disser- | disseres |
| ver | viram | vir- | vires |
| trazer | trouxeram | trouxer- | trouxeres |
| pôr | puseram | puser- | puseres |
See future subjunctive irregular forms for full paradigms.
High-frequency se + future subjunctive patterns
These combinations are so common in daily EP speech that you should memorise them as set phrases. Every one is built from the short list above.
Se puderes, vem ter comigo.
If you can, come meet me. (puderes = super frequent)
Se quiseres, eu faço o jantar.
If you want, I'll make dinner.
Se souberes alguma coisa, conta-me.
If you know anything, tell me.
Se tiveres dúvidas, pergunta.
If you have questions, ask.
Se for preciso, eu fico mais tempo.
If it's necessary, I'll stay longer. (for = future subj. of ser)
Se for a Lisboa, aviso-te.
If I go to Lisbon, I'll let you know. (for = future subj. of ir)
Se não for hoje, fica para outro dia.
If it's not today, we'll leave it for another day. (for = future subj. of ser)
Contrast 1: open vs. hypothetical — se tiveres vs. se tivesses
This is the crucial distinction. The future subjunctive (tiveres) marks an open possibility — something that could happen. The imperfect subjunctive (tivesses) marks a counterfactual hypothesis — something that isn't the case, being imagined.
Se tiveres dinheiro, compramos um café.
If you have money, we'll buy a coffee. (open — it's plausible)
Se tivesses dinheiro, comprávamos uma casa na Madeira.
If you had money, we'd buy a house in Madeira. (hypothetical — you don't actually have it)
The first sentence is a real suggestion, and the speaker expects a yes-or-no answer. The second is a flight of fancy: the speaker is dreaming aloud, presupposing that you don't in fact have the money.
Notice how the main clauses differ too. With the open conditional, the main clause is present indicative or imperative (compramos, compra). With the hypothetical, it is imperfect indicative or conditional (comprávamos, compraríamos). Portuguese keeps the two tenses parallel.
Se chover, ficamos em casa.
If it rains, we'll stay home. (open)
Se chovesse mais, a seca acabava.
If it rained more, the drought would end. (hypothetical)
Se eu pudesse, viajava mais.
If I could, I'd travel more. (hypothetical)
Se eu puder, viajo mais no verão.
If I can, I'll travel more this summer. (open)
Contrast 2: hypothetical vs. counterfactual past — se tivesses vs. se tivesses tido
A brief preview of the third type. When the if-clause refers to a past event that didn't happen — and the speaker is imagining what would have followed — Portuguese uses the pluperfect subjunctive (tivesse + past participle) in the se-clause, with the conditional perfect (teria + past participle) in the main clause.
Se tivesses tido dinheiro, terias comprado a casa.
If you had had money, you would have bought the house. (counterfactual past — it didn't happen)
Se eu tivesse sabido, teria ajudado.
If I had known, I would have helped.
This is not the future subjunctive, and it does not belong on this page; it is here only so you can see the full three-way system. See imperfect subjunctive in if-clauses for the full treatment.
Summary table: conditional sentence patterns
| Type | Se-clause | Main clause | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open future | future subjunctive | present indicative | Se tiveres tempo, passas cá. |
| Open future | future subjunctive | imperative | Se tiveres tempo, passa cá. |
| Open future | future subjunctive | ir + infinitive | Se chover, vou ficar em casa. |
| Hypothetical | imperfect subjunctive | conditional / imperfect indicative | Se tivesses tempo, passavas cá. |
| Counterfactual past | pluperfect subjunctive | conditional perfect | Se tivesses tido tempo, terias passado cá. |
Se vs. caso: a stylistic variant
For the open conditional, EP also uses caso (in case, should) as a formal alternative to se. Caso takes the present subjunctive, not the future subjunctive — a subtle distinction. It is more common in written than spoken language.
Caso chova, levamos o guarda-chuva.
In case it rains, we'll take the umbrella. (caso + present subjunctive)
Se chover, levamos o guarda-chuva.
If it rains, we'll take the umbrella. (se + future subjunctive — more everyday)
Both mean the same thing; caso + present subjunctive is slightly more formal. Don't confuse the two patterns.
When se takes the indicative: general truths and past
Not every se-clause takes the subjunctive. When se means "whether" (embedded question) or introduces a general truth, it takes the indicative.
Não sei se ele vem.
I don't know whether he's coming. (se = whether; indicative)
Se bebes muito café, não dormes bem.
If you drink a lot of coffee, you don't sleep well. (general truth; indicative)
Se estudas, passas.
If you study (as a general rule), you pass. (general truth; indicative)
The distinction: when se introduces a real, realised situation or a general truth, the indicative is used. When se introduces a hypothetical future event, the future subjunctive is used. Compare:
Se estudas com o teu amigo, aprendes mais.
If you study with your friend (as a general habit), you learn more. (gnomic truth — indicative)
Se estudares com o teu amigo, aprendes mais.
If you study with your friend (specific future plan), you'll learn more. (future conditional — future subjunctive)
The second is the one you'll use far more often. The first is somewhat rare and gnomic in flavour.
A dialogue: a Portuguese invitation
Two friends, Sofia and Rui, arranging the weekend.
— Olá, Sofia. Se tiveres tempo no sábado, vamos dar uma volta?
Hi, Sofia. If you have time on Saturday, want to go for a walk?
— Se puder, vou. Depende do que a minha mãe precisar.
If I can, I will. Depends on what my mum needs.
— Está bem. Se chover, combinamos outra coisa.
Okay. If it rains, we'll arrange something else.
— E se quiseres, podemos convidar o João.
And if you want, we can invite João.
— Se ele vier, trago mais sandes.
If he comes, I'll bring more sandwiches. (vier = future subj. of vir)
Every conditional in this exchange is an open future: nobody is dreaming about a counterfactual world. Every se-clause takes the future subjunctive. Count them: tiveres, puder, precisar, chover, quiseres, vier. Six future subjunctives in five short lines.
Common mistakes
❌ Se tens tempo, passa por cá.
Incorrect — a live future invitation needs the future subjunctive, not the present indicative.
✅ Se tiveres tempo, passa por cá.
If you have time, come by.
❌ Se quero ajuda, peço.
Incorrect (unless you mean the general habit). For a specific future scenario, use the future subjunctive.
✅ Se quiser ajuda, peço.
If I want help, I'll ask.
❌ Se ele vem, trago mais sandes.
Incorrect — 'vir' in a future open conditional requires the future subjunctive.
✅ Se ele vier, trago mais sandes.
If he comes, I'll bring more sandwiches.
❌ Se tenho dinheiro, comprava uma casa.
Incorrect — a hypothetical ('if I had money') needs the imperfect subjunctive, not the present indicative.
✅ Se tivesse dinheiro, comprava uma casa.
If I had money, I'd buy a house.
❌ Se tivesse dinheiro, vou comprar uma casa.
Incorrect — a hypothetical 'se tivesse' does not pair with the future indicative; it pairs with the conditional or imperfect indicative.
✅ Se tivesse dinheiro, comprava uma casa.
If I had money, I'd buy a house.
The last two mistakes are the mirror of the first three: English speakers sometimes over-apply the future subjunctive to a hypothetical. The test is always: is this a live possibility, or a counterfactual? Live → future subjunctive. Counterfactual → imperfect subjunctive.
Key takeaways
- The open conditional in EP is se + future subjunctive in the if-clause, with the main clause in present indicative, future, or imperative.
- English-Portuguese transfer errors cluster here: English uses a plain present (if you have time), Portuguese requires the future subjunctive (se tiveres tempo).
- Three types of conditional: open (future subjunctive), hypothetical (imperfect subjunctive), counterfactual past (pluperfect subjunctive). Each pairs with its own main-clause tense.
- Caso is a formal alternative to se but takes the present subjunctive, not the future subjunctive.
- When se means "whether" (embedded question) or introduces a general truth, it takes the indicative.
Cross-references
- Future Subjunctive with Quando — the other major use, for temporal clauses.
- Future Subjunctive vs Present Subjunctive — choosing between the two.
- Imperfect Subjunctive in If-Clauses — hypothetical and counterfactual conditionals.
- Conditional: Hypothetical Meanings — the main-clause side of hypothetical conditionals.
- Subjunctive Mood: Overview — the big picture.
Related Topics
- Future Subjunctive with Quando and Temporal ConjunctionsB1 — How European Portuguese uses the future subjunctive (futuro do conjuntivo) after quando, assim que, logo que, enquanto, sempre que, mal, depois que, and até — the tense that anchors unrealised future events in time clauses.
- Future Subjunctive vs Present Subjunctive: Choosing the Right OneB2 — The decision framework for choosing between the future subjunctive and the present subjunctive in European Portuguese — trigger types, minimal pairs, and the crucial insight that only some contexts allow the future subjunctive.
- If-Clauses with the Imperfect SubjunctiveB1 — Se + imperfeito do conjuntivo + conditional (or imperfect indicative): the core Portuguese pattern for hypothetical and counterfactual conditions — plus the three-way contrast between open, hypothetical, and past-impossible conditions.
- Subjunctive Mood OverviewB1 — What the conjuntivo is in European Portuguese, why it exists, and when the language requires it — a tour of irrealis across the present, imperfect, and future subjunctive
- Conditional in Hypothetical SentencesB1 — How the conditional pairs with the imperfect subjunctive to describe hypothetical, counterfactual, and unreal situations.