Spanish Conditional
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:
ò¹
ò¹s
ò¹
ò¹mos
ò¹is
ò¹n
Here are all three regular conditional verb forms together:
hablar | comer | vivir |
---|---|---|
hablaría hablarías hablaría hablaríamos hablaríais hablarían | comería comerías comería comeríamos comeríais comerían | viviría vivirías viviría viviríamos viviríais vivirían |
Here are the previous examples, translated to Spanish.
El alumno dijo que estudiarò¹ una hora más.
The student said that he would study one more hour.¿Qué hora serò¹?
What time could it have been?Estarò¹ en su casa.
He must have been at home.Estarò¹mos 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 made the irregular stem bold. We have also grouped them according to their patterns of change.
caber yo cabría haber poder querer saber |
poner yo pondría salir tener valer venir |
decir yo diría hacer |
Next, let’s look at some specific uses of the conditional.
To express speculation about the past:
Aquél dò¹ correrò¹n más de veinticinco kilómetros.
That day they must have run more than 25 kilometers.
To express the future from the perspective of the past:
Yo sabò¹ que abrirò¹n 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:
Serò¹ interesante estudiar chino.
It would be interesting to study Chinese.
To indicate what would happen were it not for some certain specific circumstance:
Yo viajarò¹ pero no tengo dinero.
I would travel but I don’t have money.
For polite use to soften requests:
Por favor, ¿podrò¹ decirme a qué hora abre la gasolinera?
Could you please tell me what time the gas station opens?
To ask for advice:
¿°ä³Üá±ô comprarò¹ Ud.?
Which one would you buy?
For reported speech:
Juan dijo que terminarò¹ el trabajo.
Juan said that he would finish the work.
To express what would be done in a particular situation:
¿Hablarò¹s inglés en España?
Would you speak English in Spain?No. Hablarò¹ ±ð²õ±è²¹Ã±´Ç±ô.
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, irò¹ 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:
¿Qué hora serò¹?
What time could it have been?Serò¹n 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:
¿Qué hora ²õ±ð°ùá?
What time can it be?³§±ð°ùá²Ô 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 terminarò¹ 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 ³Ù±ð°ù³¾¾±²Ô²¹°ùá el trabajo.
Juan says that he will finish the work.