Express hypothetical situations, polite requests, and "would" statements.
Formation: infinitive stem + conditional endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
manger → je mangerais, tu mangerais, il mangerait…
Uses:
1. Hypothetical: Si j'avais de l'argent, je voyagerais. (If I had money, I would travel.)
2. Polite requests: Je voudrais un café. (I would like a coffee.)
3. Reported speech: Il a dit qu'il viendrait. (He said he would come.)
4. Advice: Tu devrais étudier plus. (You should study more.)
Irregular conditional stems (same as future stems):
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| je voudrais | I would like | Je voudrais réserver une table. |
| je pourrais | I could | Je pourrais t'aider demain. |
| tu devrais | you should | Tu devrais te reposer. |
| si j'avais | if I had | Si j'avais le temps, je lirais plus. |
| ce serait | it would be | Ce serait super ! |
| Word | Phonetic | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| mangerais | mahn-zhuh-REH | Ends with "reh" — not "ray" |
| voudrais | voo-DREH | Common in restaurants and shops |
| devrais | duh-VREH | The "v" is clear |
Si clauses (conditionals): French has strict tense pairings in conditional sentences. "If + imperfect → conditional": Si je parlais français, je travaillerais à Paris. Never use conditional after si — that's a very common learner mistake!
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