To form the conditional, we use the infinitive verb to which we add the conditional endings:

INFINITIVE + ENDINGS (-ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían)

The conditional endings are IDENTICAL for all verb groups.

Example with the verb CANTAR (To sing):

– Yo cantaría
– Tú cantarías
– Él/Ella/Usted cantaría
– Nosotros cantaríamos
– Vosotros cantaríais
– Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes cantarían

II. Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs undergo changes in the stem. They are the same verbs that are irregular in the future tense. They can be grouped into different categories:

* LOSS OF THE “E” IN THE INFINITIVE :

HABER (To have) ==> Habría, Habrías, Habría, etc.
SABER (To know) ==> Sabría, Sabrías, Sabría, etc.
PODER (Can) ==> Podría, Podrías, Podría, etc.
QUERRER (Want) ==> Querría, Querrías, Querría, etc.
CABER (Hold/return) ==> Cabría, Cabrías, Cabría, etc.

* ADDING A “D” TO THE INFINITIVE :

TENER (To have) ==> Tendría, Tendrías, Tendría, etc.
PONER (To put) ==> Pondría, Pondrías, Pondría, etc.
VALER (To be worth) ==> Valdría, Valdrías, Valdría, etc.
VENIR (To come) ==> Vendría, Vendrías, Vendría, etc.
SALIR (To go out) ==> Saldría, Saldrías, Saldría, etc.

* OTHER ALTERATIONS :

DECIR (To say) ==> Diría, Dirías, Diría, etc.
HACER (To do) ==> Haría, Harías, Haría, etc.

III. Use of the conditional

The conditional tense expresses an action that would take place if the precondition to which it is subject is met:

Si pudiera, iría a Argentina y visitaría Buenos Aires ==> If I could, I would go to Argentina and visit Buenos Aires.

The conditional is also used to:

* Express a desire

– Me gustaría comer en un buen restaurante ==> I would like to eat in a good restaurant.
– Me encantaría ==> I will be delighted.

* Make requests, suggestions

– No deberías conducir tan rápido ==> You shouldn’t drive so fast.
– Quería comprar una tarta ==> I would like to buy a cake.

* Express a doubt or uncertainty in the past

Pensaba que no llegarías a tiempo ==> I thought you wouldn’t make it in time.

* Express a conjecture

El otro día, casi tuvo un accidente. Pasaría mucho miedo ¿ no ? ==> The other day, he almost had an accident. He must have been very scared.

* Express the future in the past (a future action considered in relation to a past action)

Cuando era pequeño, decía que de grande, sería bombero ==> When he was little, he said that when he grew up he would become a fireman.

* Express an invitation, a polite request:

¿ Querías venir a las 10 para cenar ? ==> Would you like to come at ten o’clock for dinner?

👉 Practice now!

👉 Next lesson : The present subjunctive

👉 Previous lesson: The future with ‘ir + a + infinitive’

_

©Spanishfornoobs.com