Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Si te propones alcanzar tus metas, trabajarás con más motivación. - If you set out to reach your goals, you will work with more motivation.

Te propones is a reflexive form of the verb proponer. Here, it roughly means “you set out (or intend) to achieve something.” In other words, it expresses a personal resolve or goal you make for yourself.

Why does the sentence use trabajarás (future tense) instead of something like trabajas (present tense)?

In Spanish, the construction Si + present tense + future tense suggests a condition leading to a future outcome. When you say Si te propones alcanzar tus metas, trabajarás con más motivación, you imply that if you decide to achieve your goals now, then the consequence (working with more motivation) will happen in the future.

Is the si in this sentence always followed by a future tense?

No, not always. It depends on the meaning you want to convey. In a typical real conditional (a situation that is likely or possible), you often see si in the present tense paired with the future tense. However, there are other conditional structures in Spanish, such as si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional, used for hypothetical situations. Here, the speaker is expressing a real possibility, so present + future is the common choice.

Could we say Si te propones que alcances tus metas?

Not really. In Spanish, proponerse is typically followed immediately by the infinitive form of the verb (in this case, alcanzar). When you use que after proponer, you’re likely switching to a construction without the reflexive element and referring to proposing an idea to someone else (for example, Te propongo que hagamos un viaje – “I propose we go on a trip”). So Si te propones alcanzar tus metas is the natural way to say it.

What is the literal translation of alcanzar tus metas, and do native speakers often phrase it this way?

Alcanzar tus metas literally translates to “to reach your goals.” It’s a very common and natural expression in Spanish for talking about achieving objectives or goals. It is used frequently throughout Latin America and Spain alike.