Unit 14: The conditional

1 Formation

For all verbs the conditional is formed by taking the future stem and adding the following endings -ais, ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

 

1.1 Regular verbs

  Table 14.1a: Future of first group (-er verbs)

Je l'aiderais bien à faire son travail mais je dois sortir  

I'd help him with his work but I have to go out

Si ça dépendait de moi, je choisirais le moins cher  

If it was up to me I'd choose the cheaper one

  See three more examples

1.2 Semi-irregular verbs

je m'achèterai	→	je m'achèterais
I will buy		I would buy

je préférerai	→	je préférerais
I will prefer		I would prefer

J'achèterais une nouvelle voiture si j'avais l'argent  

I'd buy a new car if I had the money

Je préférerais aller au cinéma  

I'd prefer to go to the cinema

  See three more examples

1.3 Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs are formed in the same manner as regular and semi-irregular verbs:

j'aurai	→	j'aurais
I will have		I would have

je ferai	→	je ferais
I will do		I would do etc.

S'il faisait des économies il n'aurait pas de difficultés financières  

If he saved his money he wouldn't have financial problems

Tu ferais mieux d'y aller toi-même  

You'd better go there yourself

  See three more examples

2 Use of the conditional

The conditional is used in the following contexts:

 

2.1 Expressing wish, need

When expressing a wish or need:

Ce serait bien agréable d'aller à la plage aujourd'hui  

It would be really nice to go to the beach today

 

2.2 Sentences containing si

In a sentence containing si:

Je viendrais avec vous si je n'étais pas si fatigué  

I would come with you if I wasn't so tired

 

2.3 Polite requests

For making polite requests or suggestions:

Pourriez-vous m'aider, je cherche l'Hotel de Ville?  

Could you help me, I'm looking for the Town Hall

 

2.4 After au cas où

Je prendrai un pullover au cas où le temps se refroidirait  

I'll take a jumper in case it gets colder

 

2.5 In the conditional perfect

Si tu me l'avais dit plus tôt, je serais venu t'aider  

If you had told me sooner, I would have come and helped you

  See three more examples

» to top of page