The Conditional Simple
Conditional sentences, as their name suggests, express that there must be a condition for what is intended to be accomplished or desired. However, the simple indicative conditional or el condicional simple de indicativo is a little different as it is used for more specific cases.
Native
Translation
Si termino mi trabajo, te ayudo con tu tarea.
If I finish my work, I will help you with your homework.
Using The Conditional Simple
Rule 1. El condicional simple de indicativo is also known as the polite tense, since it is used to make invitations or requests in a polite way. As you might guess, this tense can be accompanied by the formal register and the pronoun usted, but it can also be used in semi-informal contexts where you want to use a polite tone.
Native
Translation
¿Te gustaría salir a comer con nosotros?
Would you like to join us for lunch?
¿Me podría repetir las instrucciones señor?
Could you repeat the instructions, sir?
As you can see from the examples, this structure is very similar in usage to the polite "would" and "could" in English.
Rule 2. The conditional can also be used to give a suggestion or express a wish.
Native
Translation
¡Cómo me encantaría estar en la playa ahorita!
How I would love to be on the beach right now!
Sería buena idea que comas antes de irnos.
It would be a good idea for you to eat before we leave.
Rule 3. Finally, it is also used to express doubt or to make a hypothesis.
Native
Translation
Yo sabía que este postre te gustaría.
I knew you would like this dessert.
Forming The Conditional Simple
Rule 4. The conditional simple is one of the favorite tenses of Spanish learners because it has one of the simplest conjugations. To form it, you need to add the corresponding endings to regular verbs, regardless of whether they are verbs ending in -ar, -er or -ir.
| Subject Pronoun | Conditional Simple Endings | -ar ending verbs | -er ending verbs | -ir ending verbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | -ía | hablaría | comería | viviría |
| tú | -ías | hablarías | comerías | vivirías |
| él, ella, usted | -ía | hablaría | comería | viviría |
| nosotros, nosotras | -íamos | hablaríamos | comerías | viviríamos |
| vosotros, vosotras | -íais | hablaríais | comeríais | viviríais |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | -ían | hablarían | comerían | vivirían |
Native
Translation
Hablaría con tu amiga belga pero no hablo francés.
I would talk to your Belgian friend but I don't speak French.
Tengo tanta hambre que comería un cabello.
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
Si pudiera escoger, viviría en la playa.
If I could choose, I would live on the beach.
Irregular Verbs
Rule 5. The following verbs have a -d added to them when conjugated in the simple conditional.
| Subject Pronoun | Poner | Salir | Tener | Valer | Venir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | pondría | saldría | tendría | valdría | vendría |
| tú | pondrías | saldrías | tendrías | valdrías | vendrías |
| él, ella, usted | pondría | saldría | tendría | valdría | vendría |
| nosotros, nosotras | pondríamos | saldríamos | tendríamos | valdríamos | vendríamos |
| vosotros, vosotras | pondríais | saldríais | tendríais | valdríais | vendríais |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | pondrían | saldrían | tendrían | valdrían | vendrían |
Rule 6. The verbs decir and hacer have changes in their stem for all persons.
| Subject Pronouns | Decir | Hacer |
|---|---|---|
| yo | diría | haría |
| tú | dirías | harías |
| él, ella, usted | diría | haría |
| nosotros, nosotras | diríamos | haríamos |
| vosotros, vosotras | diríais | haríais |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | dirían | harían |
Rule 7. The verbs caber, haber, poder and saber lose the -e of the infinitive ending (-er) before adding the endings.
Native
Translation
Podría hacer la cena pero estoy muy cansada.
I could make dinner but I'm very tired.
Quiz
1/4
Identify the use.
¿Saldrías con nosotros?
0
correct answers.