Other types of "Si" clauses

Question

I'm looking for further information on the other types of "Si" clauses. L'imparfait+conditionnel is just one type. What about "Si" clauses that are placed in the past--e.g. "If you had studied harder, you would have passed the test". Another type: "If you're able, come visit me."

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Gregory,
I will try to explain:
There are 3 types -
1.  To express a likely situation using the present ------future simple
Si tu cours, tu auras ton train = If you run, you'll catch your train 
Si tu travailles, tu réussiras = If you work, you will succeed
2. To express an unlikely situation using the imperfect ------conditional present
Si tu lui parlais gentiment, il te répondrait = If you spoke nicely to him, he would answer you
Si tu travaillais à l'école, tu réussirais = If you worked at school, you'd succeed
Si j'avais de l'argent, j'achèterais une belle maison = If I had money, I would buy a lovely house
3. To express an impossible situation (as in the past and too late) using the Pluperfect -----Conditional past
Si tu lui avais répondu gentiment, il t'aurait répondu = If you had spoken to him nicely, he would have answered you
Si vous leur aviez donné de meilleures instructions, ils ne se seraient pas perdus = If you'd given them better instructions, they wouldn't have got lost
Si tu avais étudié, tu aurais réussi = If you had studied, you would have succeeded
Hope this helps