The conditional
"Would": je voudrais, si j'avais…
The conditional is the "would" form. It's made of the future stem and the imparfait endings.
Uses
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| polite requests | Je voudrais un café. Pourriez-vous m'aider ? |
| wishes | J'aimerais voyager. |
| advice, with devoir | Tu devrais dormir. "You should sleep." |
| the result of an unreal condition | Si j'avais le temps, je viendrais. |
| news not confirmed | Le ministre serait malade. "The minister is said to be ill." |
si + imparfait, conditional
An unreal or unlikely condition takes si + imparfait, and the result is in the conditional. The conditional never comes right after si "if"; it does after the si of an indirect question, Je ne sais pas s'il viendrait.
- If I were rich, I'd buy a house.
- If you came, we'd be happy.
The past conditional
The conditional of avoir or être with a past participle is "would have": j'aurais aimé "I would have liked", j'aurais dû "I should have", tu aurais pu "you could have".
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Past, future and commands cards.
How do you say "I'd like a coffee"?
Je voudrais un café.
How is the conditional formed?
The future stem plus the imparfait endings: je parlerais.
Which tenses go in Si j'avais le temps, je voyagerais?
The imparfait after si, the conditional in the result.
How do you say "You should sleep"?
Tu devrais dormir.
How do you say "I should have"?
J'aurais dû.
How do you ask a stranger "Could you help me?"
Pourriez-vous m'aider ?
How do you say "I'd like to travel"?
J'aimerais voyager.
What does the conditional mean in a headline like Le ministre serait malade?
That the news isn't confirmed: "the minister is said to be ill".