Breakdown of Si empieza la tormenta, las niñas pueden resguardarse en la entrada del museo.
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the museum
Questions & Answers about Si empieza la tormenta, las niñas pueden resguardarse en la entrada del museo.
Why is empieza in the present tense if the sentence is talking about a future possibility?
In Spanish, after si meaning if, a real or likely future condition normally uses the present indicative, not the future tense.
So Spanish says:
- Si empieza la tormenta... = If the storm starts...
Even though the event may happen later, Spanish still uses empieza.
This is very common:
- Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa.
- Si vienes mañana, te ayudo.
English often uses the present here too, but learners sometimes expect a future form in Spanish because the meaning is future. In this structure, empieza is exactly what you want.
Why is it si empieza and not si empiece?
Because after si for a normal, possible condition, Spanish uses the indicative, not the subjunctive.
So:
- Si empieza la tormenta... = correct
- Si empiece la tormenta... = not correct in standard Spanish for this meaning
The subjunctive is not normally used after si in this kind of sentence. A very useful pattern is:
- Si + present indicative, then another verb in present, future, or imperative
Examples:
- Si tengo tiempo, voy.
- Si viene, hablaremos con ella.
- Si ves a Ana, dile la verdad.