Le Conditionnel - Conditional
Definition/ A verb mood which indicates an event that may or may not occur; it is usually dependent on certain conditions and used in a si clause.
Examples / Je visiterais Luc si j'avais le temps. / I would visit Luc if I had time. / Related terms
•mood
•si clause
Glossary Index
Il mangerait avec nous si nous l'invitions. / He would eat with us if we invited him.
J'aimerais le voir.
/ I would like to see it.
Conditionnel - French Conditional MoodUsing the Conditional
The conditional is a verb mood used for events that are not guaranteed to occur; often they are dependent on certain conditions. It is translated as wouldin English.
The French conditional is mainly used in si clauses: if ___ then ___.
Il mangerait s'il avait faim - He would eat if he were hungry.
Si nous étudiions, nous serions plus intelligents - If we studied, (then) we would be smarter.
The verb vouloir is used in the conditional to express a polite request:
Je voudrais une pomme - I would like an apple
Je voudrais aller avec vous - I would like to go with you.
The verb aimer is used to express a polite desire, sometimes one that cannot be fulfilled:
J'aimerais bien le voir ! - I would really like to see it!
J'aimerais y aller, mais je dois travailler - I would like to go, but I have to work.
Conditionnel - French Conditional MoodConjugations
The future and conditional are, in my opinion, the easiest French verb forms. There is only one set of endings for each of them, and most verbs - even many which are irregular in the present tense - use their infinitive as the root.
To form the conditional of -ER and -IR verbs, add the appropriate ending to the infinitive. For -RE verbs, drop the final E before adding the ending.
Singular / Plural1st person / je / -ais / nous / -ions
2nd person / tu / -ais / vous / -iez
3rd person / il / -ait / ils / -aient
The only irregular conditional conjugations occur in about two dozen verbs which have irregular stems but use the same conditional endings listed above. Here are the French verbs with irregular conditional stems:*
Verb / Conditional stem / Similarly-conjugated verbsacheter / achèter- / achever, amener, emmener, lever, promener
appeler / appeller- / épeler, jeter, projeter, rappeler
aller / ir-
avoir / aur-
devoir / devr-
envoyer / enverr-
essayer / essaier- / employer, ennuyer, nettoyer, payer
être / ser-
faire / fer-
pleuvoir / pleuvr-
pouvoir / pourr-
savoir / saur-
venir / viendr- / revenir, devenir, parvenir
voir / verr- / revoir
vouloir / voudr-
*Notes:
- The exact same verbs are irregular in future conjugations.
- The conditional stem always ends in R.
Here are examples of -ER, -IR, -RE, and irregular verbs in the conditional:
parler / choisir / rendre / allerje / parlerais / choisirais / rendrais / irais
tu / parlerais / choisirais / rendrais / irais
il/elle/on / parlerait / choisirait / rendrait / irait
nous / parlerions / choisirions / rendrions / irions
vous / parleriez / choisiriez / rendriez / iriez
ils/elles / parleraient / choisiraient / rendraient / iraient
Conditionnel - French ConditionalTest
Test your French conditional skills by conjugating the verbs in parentheses into the conditional. You can look back at the lessons (formation and usage) if you need help.
1.Nous (déménager) en juin si nous trouvions une maison.
2.Si j'étais riche, je te (donner) le monde.
3.Il (partir) s'il avait une voiture.
4.Si mes frères travaillaient, ils (être) riches.
5.Est-ce que vous (vouloir) une tasse de thé ?
6.Elle t'(aimer) si tu étais gentil.
7.Si je l'expliquais encore, (comprendre)-tu ?
8.Je (venir) si j'avais le temps.
9.Vous (être) content si vous aidiez les autres.
10.Il (vouloir) savoir la bonne réponse.