le Conditionnel
Sophie Dorothe, this is for you :)
Le Conditionnel (or conditional) is a mood more than a tense (in that it doesn't really place you in time but rather adds a different value to the sentence). In English we simply use the word "would" in front of a sentence to do the same thing. Yes, English is much easier that way. Had I invented French, I would have made it easier but I didn't so we have to just deal with it and learn the conditional instead.
This mood is about uncertainty; we can't guarantee that these things are going to happen, there are certain conditions that have to happen first. Frequently, these conditions are introduced with the word "if" and then the thing that "would happen" is introduced with "then" (if.... then). French does something similar. It often uses the word "si" to introduce the condition and then just adds the potential result by conjugating in the conditional.
How it is made...
This tense is a lovely combo of two verb tenses you probably already know.
This mood is about uncertainty; we can't guarantee that these things are going to happen, there are certain conditions that have to happen first. Frequently, these conditions are introduced with the word "if" and then the thing that "would happen" is introduced with "then" (if.... then). French does something similar. It often uses the word "si" to introduce the condition and then just adds the potential result by conjugating in the conditional.
How it is made...
This tense is a lovely combo of two verb tenses you probably already know.
- The root of the word (le radical) is exactly like the root of all verbs in the Futur Simple.
- The endings (les terminaisons) are just like those used with the Imparfait.
Infinitive
parler
finir vendre avoir être aller faire pouvoir |
Root (futur simple)
parler
finir vendr aur ser ir fer pourr |
Ending (imparfait)
ais ais ait ions iez aient |
New Verb
parlerais
finirais vendrait aurions serions iriez feriez pourraient |
Using this mood...
Ok. So now let's put it to use. Remember, first you offer the condition (using the imparfait) then you indicate what would happen using the conditional.
Ok. So now let's put it to use. Remember, first you offer the condition (using the imparfait) then you indicate what would happen using the conditional.
English
If I studied, (then) I would have a good grade.
They would help you if you helped them. We would go to Rome if we had enough time. |
French
Si j’étudiais, j’aurais une bonne note.
Ils vous aideraient si vous les aidiez. Nous irions à Rome si nous avions assez de temps. |
The conditional is also used to be polite. This is almost always with the verb "vouloir" to create the expression, "I would like". The verb "aimer" is conjugated in the conditional to do much the same thing.
I would like the tomato soup please. Je voudrais la soupe aux tomates s'il vous plaît.
Yes, we would like to go skiing. Oui, nous aimerions faire du ski.
Le passé du conditionnel
This tense (known as the past conditional or the conditional perfect) is constructed much like the passé composé. It has two parts (c'est "composé" de deux parties).
I would like the tomato soup please. Je voudrais la soupe aux tomates s'il vous plaît.
Yes, we would like to go skiing. Oui, nous aimerions faire du ski.
Le passé du conditionnel
This tense (known as the past conditional or the conditional perfect) is constructed much like the passé composé. It has two parts (c'est "composé" de deux parties).
Auxiliaire
Être = for all the house verbs Avoir = for all the others The difference - instead of conjugating the auxiliaire in the present tense, use the conditional form. so... I would have had = j'aurais eu You would have been = tu aurais été He would have done = il aurait fait We would have gone = nous serions allés You would have sold = vous aurions vendu They would have stayed = Elles seraient restées |
Participe passé
Just like those used for the passé composé parler = parlé finir = fini vendre =vendu |
Using this mood...
Ok. So now let's put it to use. Remember, first you offer the condition (this time using the plus que parfait) then you indicate what would happen using the past conditional.
Ok. So now let's put it to use. Remember, first you offer the condition (this time using the plus que parfait) then you indicate what would happen using the past conditional.
English
If I had studied, (then) I would have had a good grade. They would have helped you if you had helped them. We would have gone to Rome if we had had enough time. |
French
Si j’avais étudié, j’aurais eu une bonne note. Ils vous auraient aidés si vous les aviez aidés. Nous serions allés à Rome si nous avions eu assez de temps. |
Using the past conditional simply allows you to state how things would have been different if (insert condition here) had happened.
You can also use this tense outside of an "if" statement but again, it shows what would have been/happened if circumstances had been different or what should have happened.
À sa place, je serais resté tranquille.
In her place, I would have stayed quiet.
Nous aurions dû commander la tarte au lieu du gâteau .
We should have ordered the pie instead of the cake.
You can also use this tense outside of an "if" statement but again, it shows what would have been/happened if circumstances had been different or what should have happened.
À sa place, je serais resté tranquille.
In her place, I would have stayed quiet.
Nous aurions dû commander la tarte au lieu du gâteau .
We should have ordered the pie instead of the cake.