Je voudrais un café.
English: I would like a coffee.
- Language
- French
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Temps et modes verbaux
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
The 'conditionnel présent' in French is a verb tense used to express what would happen under certain conditions, or to make polite requests and suggestions.
When to use it
Use the 'conditionnel présent' to talk about hypothetical situations, to express wishes or possibilities, or to make polite requests or offers.
Key forms
- Infinitive of the verb + endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
- Example: parler → je parlerais, tu parlerais, il/elle parlerait, nous parlerions, vous parleriez, ils/elles parleraient
Examples
Si j'avais le temps, je voyagerais plus.
English: If I had time, I would travel more.
Nous pourrions aller au cinéma ce soir.
English: We could go to the cinema tonight.
Tu devrais étudier davantage.
English: You should study more.
Tips
- Do not confuse the endings of the conditionnel présent with the imparfait. The conditionnel uses the same endings, but starts from the infinitive.
- Many common verbs are irregular in the conditionnel présent; learn their stems.
- The conditionnel is often used after 'si' (if), but only when 'si' is followed by the imparfait.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs have irregular stems, for example: être → je serais, avoir → j'aurais, aller → j'irais, faire → je ferais, venir → je viendrais, voir → je verrais, pouvoir → je pourrais, devoir → je devrais.