Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Si el botón no funciona, no podré descargar los archivos de la carpeta. - If the button doesn’t work, I won’t be able to download the files from the folder.

In Spanish conditionals, the si-clause (protasis) uses the present indicative for real/likely conditions: Si el botón no funciona... The result clause can be future (no podré), present (no puedo), or imperative (llama). Do not use the future in the si-clause for conditions: not Si el botón no funcionará. Future is fine when si means “whether”: No sé si funcionará.

Can I use the subjunctive (funcione) after si here?

Not for a real condition. Use the indicative: Si el botón no funciona... For a remote/unreal condition, use the imperfect subjunctive: Si el botón no funcionara/funcionase, no podría descargar... The present subjunctive (funcione) is not used after si for conditional meaning.

What’s the difference between no podré, no podría, and no puedo here?

no podré = “I won’t be able to” (neutral future; matches a real condition: Si no funciona, no podré...)
no podría = “I wouldn’t be able to” (matches a remote condition: Si no funcionara, no podría...; with Si no funciona, it can soften/politely hedge)
no puedo = “I can’t” (present; often used in speech for near-future plans: Si no funciona, no puedo descargar...)

Where do I put the object pronoun if I replace los archivos with los?

Both positions are correct:

After the infinitive: no podré descargarlos de la carpeta
Before the conjugated verb: no los podré descargar de la carpeta With negation, the pronoun goes after no if it’s before the verb: no los podré...

Is de la carpeta the right preposition for “from the folder”? What about desde or en?

de la carpeta is the default for “from the folder.”
desde la carpeta also means “from (starting at) the folder,” emphasizing origin; fine but slightly more formal/explicit.
en la carpeta means “in the folder” (location), or “into the folder” with verbs like guardar or descargar en when you mean the destination: descargar en la carpeta Descargas = “download into the Downloads folder.”

Why is it de la and not del?

del = de + el (masculine singular). carpeta is feminine, so it’s de la carpeta. You would use del with masculine nouns, e.g., del botón, del menú.

Can I omit the articles los and la?

los archivos refers to specific files; without los (descargar archivos) it’s generic/unspecified.
la carpeta likewise points to a specific folder; if it’s non-specific, use una carpeta. Saying de carpeta (no article) is not idiomatic.

Does carpeta mean “carpet”?

No. carpeta = “folder” (also “binder” in some contexts). “Carpet” is alfombra (general) or moqueta (fitted carpet). In computing, carpeta ≈ “directory/folder.”

Is archivo or fichero more common in Spain?

Both are understood. In Spain, archivo and fichero are both used in computing; archivo is pan-Hispanic and a safe default, while fichero may sound slightly more Spain-local/technical in some contexts.

Can I say bajar instead of descargar?

Yes. In Spain, bajar (often bajarse) is very common: Si el botón no funciona, no podré bajar(me) los archivos... descargar is more standard/neutral and frequent in interfaces.

Is the pronominal form descargarse (e.g., descargármelos) correct?

Yes. Many speakers use a clitic for affectedness/ownership: me descargué un PDF ≈ descargué un PDF. With both pronouns: no podré descargármelos de la carpeta (= I won’t be able to download them for myself). Note a different meaning: Se me descargó el móvil = “My phone’s battery ran out.”

Why usar funcionar and not trabajar or servir for a button?

For devices/components, use funcionar (“to work/function”) or colloquially ir (“no va”). trabajar is mainly for people; for things it’s uncommon. servir means “to be useful/to serve its purpose”: Este botón no sirve (“This button is no good/doesn’t do the job”).

Is the comma after the si-clause required?

Yes, when the si-clause comes first: Si el botón no funciona, no podré... If the si-clause comes second, you usually omit the comma: No podré descargar... si el botón no funciona.

Can I say Si no funciona el botón instead of Si el botón no funciona?

Yes. Both are natural. Si el botón no funciona... (subject before verb) and Si no funciona el botón... (verb before subject) are equivalent; the latter can slightly foreground the idea of “not working.”

How important are the accent marks in botón and podré, and where is the stress?

Very important:

botón is stressed on the last syllable (-tón); the accent mark is required.
podré is stressed on -dré; the accent distinguishes it from other forms.
funciona is stressed on the penultimate syllable: fun-CIO-na (no written accent needed).

What’s the difference between si and sí?

si (no accent) = “if”/“whether”: Si el botón no funciona...
sí (accent) = “yes,” or the reflexive pronoun “himself/herself/itself.” Not used here.

How do I say the past counterfactual version?

Si el botón no hubiera/hubiese funcionado, no habría podido descargar los archivos de la carpeta.

Can I use ir a for the future (voy a poder) instead of podré?

Yes: Si el botón no funciona, no voy a poder descargar... It’s very common in speech and often sounds more conversational. Both no voy a poder and no podré are correct; choose based on tone and context.

Any colloquial alternatives natives in Spain might use?

For “not working”: no va, no tira, no responde (it doesn’t respond).
For the result: no me deja descargar los archivos (“it won’t let me download the files”).