The First Conditional
To talk about realistic possibilities and their outcomes, Italian uses the first conditional (periodo ipotetico della realtà).
Construct it by pairing a condition introduced by se (if) with a likely result. Because these situations are viewed as real or highly probable, both clauses use the indicative mood (the present or future tenses).
If the result is an immediate fact, a general truth, or a direct action, use the present tense in both parts of the sentence. This is very common when laying down conditions or evaluating risks.
| If you don't accept this condition, I won't sign the contract. | Se non accetti questa condizione, non firmo il contratto. |
| If we invest the money, the risk is very high. | Se investiamo i soldi, il rischio è molto alto. |
When predicting a future outcome based on a present condition, use se with the present tense for the condition, and the future tense for the result.
| If the price increases, we will see an excellent profit. | Se il prezzo aumenta, vedremo un ottimo profitto. |
| If we do not negotiate, we will have to accept a big loss. | Se non negoziamo, dovremo accettare una grande perdita. |
| If the company has a guarantee, it will be able to invest abroad. | Se l'azienda ha una garanzia, potrà investire all'estero. |
Just like in English, the clause order is flexible. You can state the result first, followed by the se clause, without changing the meaning of the sentence.
| I must sign it if the contract is ready. | Lo devo firmare se il contratto è pronto. |
