Si llueve, quito la ropa del tendedero y la cuelgo dentro.

If it rains, I take the clothes off the clothesline and hang them inside.

Breakdown of Si llueve, quito la ropa del tendedero y la cuelgo dentro.

• yo: I
• y: and
• si: if
• la ropa: the clothes

Questions & Answers about Si llueve, quito la ropa del tendedero y la cuelgo dentro.

Why is it si llueve and not “si lloverá”?

After si (if) Spanish normally uses the present indicative for real/likely conditions, even if you’re talking about the future. So you say:

• Si llueve, quito… (If it rains/if it rains later, I remove…) You don’t use the future after si in this kind of clause. The result clause can also be in the present: Si llueve, quito…

When would I use the subjunctive, like si lloviera?

Use the imperfect subjunctive for unreal/hypothetical situations:

• Likely/real: Si llueve, quito la ropa.
• Hypothetical/unlikely: Si lloviera, quitaría la ropa.
• Past hypothetical: Si hubiera llovido, habría quitado la ropa.

Could I say cuando llueve instead of si llueve?

Yes, with a small nuance:

• Si llueve… = condition (if it happens).
• Cuando llueve… = whenever/when it happens (habit). Both are fine for a general rule; si stresses the condition a bit more.

Does quitar mean “to quit” (like resign)?