B1 · Section 5 of 10
What if…
Build real and polite if-sentences.
Se + present, then present or future, covers real situations; se + imperfect softens a wish or a daydream.
se ho tempo, vengo
(seh oh tehm-poh vehn-goh)
= if I have time, I will come
se fossi ricco…
(seh fohs-see reek-koh)
= if I were rich…
magari!
(mah-gah-ree)
= if only! / I wish!
Common mistake
✗ se avrò tempo, vengo
✓ se ho tempo, vengo
After se (if), Italian uses the plain present, never the future.