Spanish · B2 · Family moment
A back-up plan for independent travel in Spanish
Preparing children for independent travel involves discussing 'what-if' scenarios. This guide focuses on expressing tentative future contingencies using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive to mirror the English 'Should X happen' structure, helping you set a calm, prepared tone for your child's solo journeys.
What you'll learn
- Express tentative future contingencies using 'Si' + Imperfect Subjunctive.
- Learn vocabulary related to bus travel and unexpected changes.
- Distinguish between a standard 'if' and a hypothetical 'should' in Spanish.
- Formulate clear instructions for a child in case of travel disruptions.
Spanish phrases for a back-up plan for independent travel
Si llegara a cancelarse tu autobús, llámame antes de elegir otra ruta.
Should your bus be cancelled, ring me before choosing another route.
Using 'llegara a' adds a layer of 'in the event that it actually happens'.
Si me pasara de parada, me bajaré en la siguiente.
Should I miss my stop, I'll get off at the next one.
'Pasarse de parada' is the natural way to say missing one's stop.
Si se te agotara la batería, usa el número de esta tarjeta.
Should your battery run out, use the number on this card.
'Agotarse' is used for resources like batteries running out or being exhausted.
Si el conductor cambiara la ruta, pregunta dónde tienes que bajarte.
Should the driver change the route, ask where to get off.
Uses the imperfect subjunctive 'cambiara' to express a possibility.
Si llegara a sentirme inseguro, me quedaré cerca del conductor.
Should I feel unsure, I'll stay near the driver.
The future tense 'me quedaré' in the result clause shows a firm plan.
Si el autobús estuviera muy lleno, mantén tu mochila delante de ti.
Should the bus be crowded, keep your bag in front of you.
'Estuviera' sets up the condition of the bus being crowded.
Si llegaras temprano, espera dentro del polideportivo.
Should you arrive early, wait inside the sports centre.
The imperative 'espera' provides a direct command for the contingency.
Si ocurriera algo inesperado, pedir ayuda importa más que ser puntual.
Should anything unexpected happen, getting help matters more than being punctual.
A broad contingency phrase using 'ocurriera'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Pasarse de parada
To miss one's stop
Literally 'to pass oneself of the stop'.
Inesperado
Unexpected
From 'esperar' (to expect/wait).
Agotarse
To run out / To exhaust
Refers to batteries or energy.
Ruta
Route
Used for bus or travel paths.
Tentative Contingencies (The Spanish 'Should')
In English, we can start a condition with 'Should' (e.g., 'Should it rain...'). Spanish does not have a verb-first inversion for this. Instead, at a B2 level, we use the Imperfect Subjunctive after 'Si' to express a tentative, less likely, or hypothetical future contingency.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Si + [Imperfect Subjunctive] + [Main Clause] | Si perdieras el bus... (Should you lose the bus...) |
| Probability | Si + Present Indicative | Si pierdes el bus... (If you lose the bus... [Higher probability]) |
| Extra Emphasis | Si + llegara a + [Infinitive] | Si llegara a llover... (Should it happen to rain...) |
More examples
¿Qué harías si se rompiera el móvil?
What would you do should your phone break?
Using the conditional 'harías' with the imperfect subjunctive.
En caso de que el tren se retrase, no salgas de la estación.
In the event that the train is delayed, do not leave the station.
'En caso de que' is a formal alternative to 'Should'.
Si tuvieras cualquier duda, pregunta al personal.
Should you have any doubt, ask the staff.
Common way to give instructions for possible confusion.