se
If
Se plus a clause gives a condition.
How It Works
| Kind of condition | Example |
|---|---|
| real, in general | Se pluvas, mi restas hejme. |
| real, in the future | Se vi venos, ni ludos. |
| only imagined | Se mi havus tempon, mi irus. |
Se means on the condition that. When the condition may be true, use -as or -os: Se li havas multe da mono, li aĉetos aŭton.
When the condition is only imagined, use -us in both parts: Se mi havus multe da mono, mi aĉetus aŭton. The ending shows that the speaker knows the money is not there.
The clause with se can come first or second. When it comes first, a comma follows it.
Keep se apart from ĉu. Se says if, as in a condition, and ĉu says whether, as in a question: Mi ne scias, ĉu li venos.
Examples (5)
- Se pluvas, mi restas hejme.
If it rains, I stay at home.
Se starts the condition, and a comma follows it.
- Se vi venos al Pollando, Kofi, ni vizitos la urbon.
If you come to Poland, Kofi, we will visit the city.
The condition may come true, so both verbs use -os.
- Se Ana havos tempon, ŝi lernos la japanan.
If Ana has time, she will learn Japanese.
The future ending shows a condition that may come true.
- Se mi havus pli da tempo, mi lernus la hispanan.
If I had more time, I would learn Spanish.
The -us endings show that this is imagined.
- Ni manĝos en la ĝardeno, se estos varme.
We will eat in the garden if it is warm.
The se clause can come second, and then the comma stands before se.
Common Mistakes
Using se for whether.
Mi ne scias, se li venas.Mi ne scias, ĉu li venas.Se gives a condition. To say whether, use ĉu.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Se starts a part of a sentence that often has a present or future verb.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice se in Bubblegum
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