ELONIO
Log inSign up

Si el cajero no funciona, saco dinero en otro banco.

Si el cajero no funciona, saco dinero en otro banco.
If the ATM doesn’t work, I withdraw money at another bank.
FromLesson 38inHardcore Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Si el cajero no funciona, saco dinero en otro banco.

Why are both verbs in the present tense (funciona, saco) instead of using the future (like sacaré)?

In Spanish, si + present, present is very common to talk about a real/likely condition and what you normally do (a habit) or what you’ll do next as a natural result.

  • Habit/general rule: Si el cajero no funciona, saco dinero en otro banco.
  • You can also use the future to sound more specifically “this time / in the future”: Si el cajero no funciona, sacaré dinero en otro banco.
    Both are correct; the present is often more “routine/plan-like.”
When do I use the subjunctive after si? Why isn’t it Si el cajero no funcione?

After si, you generally use:

  • Indicative for real/possible situations: Si no funciona…
  • Imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical/unlikely situations: Si no funcionara/funcionase… So Si no funcione is not standard in this type of conditional. Correct patterns:
  • Real: Si no funciona, saco/sacaré…
  • Hypothetical: Si no funcionara/funcionase, sacaría…
Does cajero mean “cashier” or “ATM” here?

In Spain, el cajero very commonly means the ATM (short for cajero automático).
It can also mean cashier depending on context, but with funciona and the idea of getting cash, it strongly points to ATM.

Why is it el cajero and not un cajero?

El can be used when the thing is specific in the situation (e.g., the ATM you’re standing at, or the usual one you’re talking about).
Un cajero would sound more like “an ATM (any ATM)” and is less natural if you mean a particular one you tried.

Why isn’t yo included? Should it be yo saco?

Spanish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who it is: saco = “I withdraw/take out.”
You’d add yo mainly for emphasis or contrast, like Yo saco dinero en otro banco, pero tú no.

Why do you say sacar dinero? Is that just an idiom?

Yes, sacar dinero is the most common everyday collocation in Spain for getting cash from an ATM (literally “to take money out”).
Other options exist, but may sound more formal/region-dependent:

  • retirar dinero (more formal/bank-like)
  • sacar efectivo (explicitly “cash”)
What’s the difference between dinero and efectivo here?

dinero is general “money.”
efectivo specifically means “cash (notes/coins).”
At an ATM, both work, but sacar efectivo is extra clear that you mean cash, not a transfer or payment.

Why is it en otro banco and not a otro banco or de otro banco?

With sacar dinero, Spanish commonly uses en to mean “at/from (a place where the operation happens)”:

  • Saco dinero en otro banco = “I withdraw money at another bank (ATM).” You might also hear:
  • del cajero / de un cajero to emphasize the machine as the source: Saco dinero de otro cajero. a otro banco would focus more on movement (“I go to another bank”), often with a verb like ir: Voy a otro banco.
Is the comma necessary after funciona?

It’s standard to use a comma when the si-clause comes first:

  • Si el cajero no funciona, saco dinero en otro banco. If you reverse the order, the comma is usually omitted:
  • Saco dinero en otro banco si el cajero no funciona.
Can I change the word order to Si no funciona el cajero?

Yes. Si no funciona el cajero, … is grammatically fine and quite natural.
Si el cajero no funciona, … is a bit more neutral and straightforward; both are common.

Why is it otro banco and not otra banco?

Because banco is masculine in Spanish, so both the article/adjective agree:

  • otro banco (masculine)
  • otra would go with a feminine noun, e.g., otra sucursal (another branch).
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Spanish grammar?”
Spanish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Spanish

Master Spanish — from Si el cajero no funciona, saco dinero en otro banco to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Spanish→