Hypothetical clause

The best rendition of this sentence is to use present tense in the si-clause and future tense in the main clause. Here's why:

There are three versions of the hypothetical clause:

1) Si je gagne au loto je serai riche. -- If I win the lottery, I will be rich. Using present tense in the si-clause and either present or future tense in the main clause. This expresses a possibility without any bias as to how probable it is.

2) Si je gagnais au loto je serais riche. -- If I won the lottery, I would be rich. Imperfect in the si-clause and present conditional in the main clause. The likelihood expressed is less than in the first case.

3) Si j'avais gagné au loto j'aurais été riche. -- I I had won the lottery, I would have been rich. Past perfect tense in the si-clause and past conditional in the main clause. Here we're dealing with an unrealized situation in the past.

Note that, for once, the English and the French have exactly the same constructions and follow the same progression.

Thank you Chris for your clarification of the hypothetical clause with the example in the three formats which explains it perfectly. Just have to try to remember it now 👍

Chris, I have had a further look at hypothetical sentences in the Library and it only refers to ‘’ Using ‘’si’’ + L’imparfait in hypothetical sentences with Le Conditionnel Présent ‘’. I found your explanation with examples very useful and wonder if the three versions of the hypothetical sentences should be further clarified in the Library content - or is it already covered under a different title.

I think that‘s a great suggestion. You‘ve got to take this up with one of the kwiziq language team members. I‘ don‘t work here. :))