Lesson Topics
The Conditional Tense
Notes:
- The written lesson is below.
- Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.
Frequently, the conditional is used to express probability, possibility, wonder or conjecture, and is usually translated as would, could, must have or probably.
The student said that he would study one more hour. (probability, possibility)
What time could it have been? (wonder, conjecture)
He must have been at home. (wonder, conjecture)
We were probably busy when you called. (probability, possibility)
Note: when “would” is used in the sense of a repeated action in the past, the imperfect is used.
To conjugate regular -ar, -er and -ir verbs in the conditional, simply add one of the following to the infintive:
铆补
铆补s
铆补
铆补mos
铆补is
铆补n
Here are all three regular conditional verb forms together:
| hablar | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|
| hablar铆补 | comer铆补 | vivir铆补 |
| hablar铆补s | comer铆补s | vivir铆补s |
| hablar铆补 | comer铆补 | vivir铆补 |
| hablar铆补mos | comer铆补mos | vivir铆补mos |
| hablar铆补is | comer铆补is | vivir铆补is |
| hablar铆补n | comer铆补n | vivir铆补n |
Here are the previous examples, translated to Spanish.
El alumno dijo que estudiar铆补 una hora m谩s.
The student said that he would study one more hour.驴Qu茅 hora ser铆补?
What time could it have been?Estar铆补 en su casa.
He must have been at home.Estar铆补mos ocupados cuando llamaste.
We were probably busy when you called.
The same twelve common verbs that are irregular in the future tense are also irregular in the conditional tense. Their endings are regular, but their stems change in the same way they change in the future tense. Because the endings are the same as all other conditional tense verbs, we show only the “yo” form, and have underlined the irregular stem. We have also grouped them according to their patterns of change.
caber
yo cabr铆补poner
yo pondr铆补decir
yo dir铆补haber
yo habr铆补salir
yo saldr铆补hacer
yo har铆补poder
yo podr铆补tener
yo tendr铆补querer
yo querr铆补valer
yo valdr铆补saber
yo sabr铆补venir
yo vendr铆补
Next, let’s look at some specific uses of the conditional.
To express speculation about the past:
Aqu茅l d铆补 correr铆补n m谩s de veinticinco kil贸metros.
That day they must have run more than 25 kilometers.
To express the future from the perspective of the past:
Yo sab铆补 que abrir铆补n la tienda a las siete.
I knew that they would open the store at seven o’clock.
To express hypothetical actions or events which may or may not occur:
Ser铆补 interesante estudiar chino.
It would be interesting to study Chinese.
To indicate what would happen were it not for some certain specific circumstance:
Yo viajar铆补 pero no tengo dinero.
I would travel but I don’t have money.
For polite use to soften requests:
Por favor, 驴podr铆补 decirme a qu茅 hora abre la gasolinera?
Could you please tell me what time the gas station opens?
驴颁耻谩濒 comprar铆补 Ud.?
Which one would you buy?
For reported speech:
Juan dijo que terminar铆补 el trabajo.
Juan said that he would finish the work.
To express what would be done in a particular situation:
驴Hablar铆补s ingl茅s en Espa帽a?
Would you speak English in Spain?No. Hablar铆补 别蝉辫补帽辞濒.
No. I would speak Spanish.
Let’s look at one more use of the conditional.
To express an action which is contrary to fact:
Si yo tuviera tiempo, ir铆补 al cine esta noche.
If I had time, I would go to the movies tonight.
Note: This last example uses a verb tense you are not yet familiar with — the imperfect subjunctive (tuviera). This topic will be covered in depth in a later lesson.
Finally, a few words need to be said to call attention to the contrasting uses of the future and the conditional. As previously stated, the conditional is used for conjecture and to express probability with regards to a past action, as in the following example:
驴Qu茅 hora ser铆补?
What time could it have been?Ser铆补n las cinco.
It was probably five o’clock.
If, however, the conjecture or expression of probability is about the present, the future tense is used:
驴Qu茅 hora 蝉别谤谩?
What time can it be?厂别谤谩苍 las cinco.
It is probably five o’clock.
With regards to reported speech, notice that if the main clause is in the past, the conditional is used.
Juan dijo que terminar铆补 el trabajo.
Juan said that he would finish the work.
But if the main clause is in the present, the future is used.
Juan dice que 迟别谤尘颈苍补谤谩 el trabajo.
Juan says that he will finish the work.
Let’s add two flashcards for the conditional tense:
Verb Flashcards
Complete List
Conditional Tense
Infinitive + ending
(-铆补, -铆补s, -铆补, -铆补mos, -铆补is, -铆补n)
Conditional Tense Irregulars
caber
yo cabr铆补poner
yo pondr铆补decir
yo dir铆补haber
yo habr铆补salir
yo saldr铆补hacer
yo har铆补poder
yo podr铆补tener
yo tendr铆补querer
yo querr铆补valer
yo valdr铆补saber
yo sabr铆补venir
yo vendr铆补
