Le Conditionnel
April 4, 2012 § Leave a comment
The conditional is the “would verb” tense. One uses it just as one says “would” in English. It’s a happy tense because it pretty much completely aligns with the “would verb” usage in English.
To form the conditional
1. Take the future stem of a verb
a. for er, ir verbs the future stem is the infinitive
b. for re verbs, the future stem is the infinitive -e (vendr, perdr, descendr)
c. for irregular verbs – memorize them
2. Add the imparfait endings
| je – ais | nous – ions |
| tu – ais | vous – iez |
| il – ait | ils – aient |
Uses of the conditional
1. to express the future in the past
*Hier il a dit qu’il viendrait aujourd’hui. Yesterday he said that he’d come over today.
*Je savais que tu le ferais. I knew that you’d do it.
*Le professeur nous a dit que la classe serait facile. The prof told us that the class would be easy.
*Nous pensions que tu deviendrais médecin. We thought you’d become a doctor.
2. If imparfait then conditional …
*Si je savais la réponse, je la crierais à haute voix. If I knew the answer, I’d holler it out.
*S’ils avaient une voiture, ils sortiraient avec leurs amis. If they had a car, they’d go out with their friends.
*Si j’étais riche, j’habiterais à Paris. If I was rich I’d live in Paris.
3. As a form of politesse
used with vouloir (would like), pouvoir (could), and aimer.
*Je voudrais vous parler. I’d like to talk to you.
*Pourriez-vous m’aider s’il vous plaît? Could you help me please.
*Nous aimerions bien aller à la plage. We would really like to go to the beach.
4. Always used after “au cas où”
*Elle nous donnera son adresse au cas où nous irions à Paris. She will give us her address in case we go to Paris.
* Au cas où il ne serait pas là, vous pourriez lui laisser un mot. In case he’s not there, you could leave him a note.
French Notes 
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