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Si cierras la llave principal, evitarás que la fuga empeore.

Si cierras la llave principal, evitarás que la fuga empeore.
If you close the main valve, you will prevent the leak from getting worse.
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Questions & Answers about Si cierras la llave principal, evitarás que la fuga empeore.

Why does the sentence use the present indicative cierras in the “if” clause instead of a future tense?

In Spanish, real or likely conditional sentences (Type I) use present indicative in the “si” clause, even when referring to the future. The result clause is the one that can carry the future tense:
• Si cierras la llave, evitarás el problema.

Why is the main verb evitarás in the simple future, and could we use “vas a evitar” instead?

Spanish has two common ways to talk about the future:

  1. Simple future (evitarás) – often a bit more formal or expresses certainty.
  2. Periphrastic future (vas a evitar) – very common in spoken language.
    Both are correct, e.g.:
    • Si cierras la llave, vas a evitar que la fuga empeore.
Why is it que la fuga empeore (subjunctive) rather than que la fuga empeora (indicative)?

After verbs that express prevention or avoidance (like evitar), the subordinate clause needs the subjunctive because you’re talking about something you want to prevent from happening, not a fact:
• Evitarás que la fuga empeore.

Does llave only mean “key”? How can it mean “valve” here?

In everyday Spanish, llave can refer to:

  1. A key (for a door)
  2. A tap or valve (for water, gas, etc.)
    “La llave principal” in a house/apartment is the main shut-off valve for the water supply.
What exactly is a fuga in this context?
Fuga literally means “leak” (of gas, water, oil). It can also mean “escape” in other contexts, but here it clearly refers to a water leak getting worse.
Could we reorder the clauses – e.g., start with “Evitarás…” and then say “si cierras…”?

Yes, you could say:
• Evitarás que la fuga empeore si cierras la llave principal.
Spanish allows both orders. Placing the “si” clause first is very common, but it’s equally correct at the end.