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Si el barco se hunde, sal del barco.

Si el barco se hunde, sal del barco.
If the boat sinks, get off the boat.
From Lesson 176:The first conditional (si)·Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Si el barco se hunde, sal del barco.

How does the 'if' structure work in this sentence?
This sentence uses the first conditional to give an instruction. It starts with si (if) followed by a verb in the normal present tense (se hunde) to describe a possible situation. The second part tells you what to do using a command (sal).
Why is 'sal' used here instead of 'sales' or 'sale'?
Sal is the informal command form of salir (to leave / to get out) for tú (you). It is an irregular command. Because you are giving a direct order in this part of the sentence, you must use the command form rather than the normal present tense.
Why does the sentence say 'se hunde' instead of just 'hunde'?
The verb hundirse (to sink) is used reflexively here because the boat is sinking itself, rather than sinking something else. If you used hunde without the se, it would imply the boat is actively sinking another object.
Why do we say 'del barco' to mean 'off the boat'?
The verb salir usually pairs with the preposition de to mean 'to get out of' or 'to leave from' a place. When de is followed by the masculine word el (the), they must combine into the single word del.

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