The Conditional Tense: Formation and Everyday Uses
The conditional (le conditionnel) is used for what would happen, for polite requests, for giving advice, and for the result clause of hypothetical 'if' sentences. It is formed from the same stem as the simple future, the infinitive, or an irregular future stem such as ser-, aur-, fer-, voudr- or viendr-, plus the imperfect endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
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Method
- Find the same stem used for the simple future: the full infinitive for regular verbs (parler-, finir-, and vendre with the final e dropped: vendr-), or the irregular stem for irregular verbs (être becomes ser-, avoir becomes aur-, aller becomes ir-, faire becomes fer-, pouvoir becomes pourr-, vouloir becomes voudr-, devoir becomes devr-, venir becomes viendr-).
- Add the imperfect endings to that stem: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient, as in je parlerais, tu parlerais, il parlerait, nous parlerions, vous parleriez, ils parleraient.
- Use the conditional for politeness, especially with vouloir, pouvoir and aimer: je voudrais (I would like), pourriez-vous... (could you...), j'aimerais (I would like).
- Use the conditional to give advice, often with devoir: tu devrais faire plus de sport (you should do more sport).
- Use the conditional for what would happen given a condition, in the result clause of a si sentence where the si clause is in the imperfect: si j'avais plus de temps, je ferais du bénévolat (if I had more time, I would volunteer).
- Use the conditional for unconfirmed information, often in news reports: le président serait malade (the president is apparently ill).
- Do not confuse the conditional je/tu forms (-ais) with the future je/tu forms (-ai/-as); the only spelling difference between je parlerai (future, I will speak) and je parlerais (conditional, I would speak) is the extra i before the ending.
Worked example
Put the verb in brackets into the conditional, then say what tense the 'si' clause is in: Si j'avais plus d'argent, je (voyager) autour du monde. Mes parents (être) très contents et nous (pouvoir) enfin visiter le Japon.
- The si clause 'si j'avais' uses avoir in the imperfect, which signals a hypothetical condition, so the result clauses need the conditional.
- 'voyager' is regular; its conditional stem is the infinitive voyager-, plus -ais for je: je voyagerais.
- 'être' has the irregular conditional/future stem ser-; add -aient for the plural subject mes parents: mes parents seraient.
- 'pouvoir' has the irregular stem pourr-; add -ions for nous: nous pourrions.
- Full sentence: Si j'avais plus d'argent, je voyagerais autour du monde. Mes parents seraient très contents et nous pourrions enfin visiter le Japon.
Practice questions
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Q1Give the je form of the conditional of 'vouloir'.Show answer
Answer: je voudrais.
Q2What is the conditional stem of 'venir'?Show answer
Answer: viendr-.
Q3Translate: 'I would like a coffee, please.'Show answer
Answer: Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
Q4Complete: Si tu étudiais plus, tu ______ (reussir) tes examens.Show answer
Answer: réussirais.
Q5What is the one spelling difference between 'je parlerai' (future) and 'je parlerais' (conditional)?Show answer
Answer: The conditional adds an extra i before the ending (-ais instead of -ai).
Q6Give advice using devoir in the conditional: 'You (tu) should eat more vegetables.'Show answer
Answer: Tu devrais manger plus de légumes.
Q7Translate: 'If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.'Show answer
Answer: Si je gagnais au loto, j'achèterais une maison.
Q8Give the vous form of the conditional of 'être'.Show answer
Answer: vous seriez.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE French exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Translate this passage into English: Si je pouvais changer une chose dans ma ville, je construirais plus de parcs pour les jeunes. Mes amis et moi, nous serions très heureux d'avoir un endroit où nous pourrions nous retrouver. Ce serait vraiment génial.
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Write approximately 90 words in French about how you would improve your local area. You must mention: one problem in your area, what you would do to solve it using the conditional, how people's lives would change, and whether you would like to stay living there in the future, with reasons.
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