Le conditionnel

The CONDITIONAL is used to describe

what people WOULD DO, what WOULD
HAPPEN if a certain condition were to be
met.

Formation of the Conditional

The CONDITIONAL is a simple tense
which is formed as follows:
FUTURE STEM + IMPERFECT ENDINGS

The Conditional of Parler

Je parlerais
Tu parlerais
Il/Elle parlerait
Nous parlerions
Vous parleriez
Ils/Elles parleraient

The Conditional of Finir

Je finirais
Tu finirais
Il/Elle finirait
Nous finirions
Vous finiriez
Ils/Elles finiraient

The Conditional of Vendre

Je vendrais
Tu vendrais
Il/Elle vendrait
Nous vendrions
Vous vendriez
Ils/Elles vendraient

The Conditional of Aller

Jirais
Tu irais
Il/Elle irait
Nous irions
Vous iriez
Ils/Elles iraient

The Conditional and Irregular Verb

Stems
Verbs that have an irregular future stem
keep the same stem in the conditional.
Avoiraur- jaurais
tre ser- je serais

Uses of the Conditional

To express the idea would
The conditional tense describes an action that would
happen if it were not for some other circumstances. It is
translated by would in English.
Dans ce cas-l, je viendrais. In that case, I would come.
votre place, nous lui en parlerions. In your situation, we
would speak to him about it.

Would vs Should
Do not confuse the meaning of the
conditional with the verb devoir.
Je devrais travailler. I should study
Je travaillerais. I would study.

Uses of the Conditional

After Certain Conjunctions
The conditional tense is used after quand, lorsque, ds
que, aussitt que, and tant que (while) when the main
verb is in the conditional tense.
Il mangerait quand il arriverait. He would eat when he arrived.
Il ferait le travail ds quil reviendrait. He would do work as
soon as he returned.

It is also used after au cas o.

Jattendrai encore une lettre au cas o elle viendrait. I will
wait another hour in case she comes.

Uses of the Conditional

To Soften a Request, Command or
Desire
The conditional tense is used to soften a request,
command, or desire.
Je voudrais vous dire quelque chose.

I would like to tell

you something.

Jaimerais aller Paris. I would like to go to Paris.

Pourriez-vous maider? Could you help me?
Voudriez-vous aller au cinma? Would you like to go to
the movies?

Uses of the Conditional

To Express Possibility or Unsure
Action
The conditional tense is used to express a possible action or condition
in the present. It is often used with exclamations or questions.
Quelle heure serait-il? Il serait trois heures.
What time could it be? It could be three oclock already.
It is also used to describe an action that is unsure or not known to be
true. It is often used by journalists and reporters.
Il serait New York aujourdhui. He is rumored to be in New York
today.
Il aurait une peinture de Braque. He allegedly has a Braque painting.
Quel accident! Il y aurait trois morts! What an accident! It is said there
are three deaths.