When if meets si: An Exploratory Study on the Acquisition of If-Conditionals by Spanish-speaking Learners of English

Cross-linguistic influence continues to be a relevant factor in understanding how learners process and produce grammatical aspects in a second language. The present study explores the acquisition of English conditional sentences by Spanish-speaking learners, focusing on the comprehension and production of this grammatical structure. The purpose is to understand how learners identify different types of conditionals and understand how much they rely on their L1 (Spanish) to do so. Using questionnaire data of second-year Bachillerato students, I analyse two processes: their comprehension of conditional structures, their competence in producing them correctly and their reflections on both processes. The data show that the respondents were able to identify and produce the different types of conditionals though with varying degrees of correctness. L1 structures facilitated understanding of L2 structures. Difficulties were found regarding the interpretation of the meanings conveyed by each conditional type. In light of the findings, explicit grammar instruction on conditional structures and awareness raising through noticing and subsequent production practice seem relevant to learn English conditional sentences.