The conditional tense (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
The conditional tense
The conditional tense in Spanish is used to express what you would do, could do, or should do in certain situations. It's also useful for making polite requests and expressing future intentions from a past perspective.
How to form the conditional tense
The conditional tense is formed by adding specific endings to the infinitive form of verbs. The good news is that the endings are the same for all verbs, whether they end in -ar, -er, or -ir.
Regular formation
The conditional tense uses the complete infinitive as its stem, unlike some other tenses that drop the ending. This makes it relatively straightforward to learn!
Take the infinitive and add these endings:
| Person | Ending | Example (hablar) |
|---|---|---|
| I (yo) | -ía | hablaría |
| you (tú) | -ías | hablarías |
| he/she/it (él/ella) | -ía | hablaría |
| we (nosotros) | -íamos | hablaríamos |
| you (vosotros) | -íais | hablaríais |
| they (ellos/ellas) | -ían | hablarían |
Notice that all the endings have an accent mark on the í. This is crucial for both pronunciation and spelling - forgetting the accent is a common mistake that changes the meaning of the word!
Irregular verbs
Some common verbs use a different stem in the conditional tense, but they still use the same endings. Here are the most important ones to remember:
| Useful vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| habría | there would be / I would have |
| haría | I would do/make |
| podría | I could / would be able to |
| tendría | I would have |
| pondría | I would put |
| diría | I would say |
| querría | I would want |
| sabría | I would know |
| saldría | I would leave |
| vendría | I would come |
Memory tip: The irregular conditional stems are exactly the same as the irregular future tense stems. If you've learned the future tense irregulars, you already know these!
When to use the conditional tense
Expressing hypothetical situations
The conditional is perfect for talking about what you would do in imaginary or hypothetical situations. You often use it with "poder" (could) to suggest possibilities.
Hypothetical Situations:
- Podríamos ir a Ibiza. - We could go to Ibiza.
- Construir un parque infantil sería una idea muy buena. - Building a children's playground would be a really good idea.
Making polite requests and suggestions
The conditional makes your requests sound more polite and less demanding. This is essential for courteous communication in Spanish.
Polite Requests and Suggestions:
- ¿Podrías ayudarme? - Could you help me?
- Deberías estudiar más. - You should study more.
- Nunca deberías fumar. - You should never smoke.
Expressing future intentions or desires
When talking about what you would like to do in the future, the conditional is very useful, especially with "gustar" for expressing preferences and desires.
Expressing Desires with "Me gustaría":
- Me gustaría ir a Sudamérica. - I'd like to go to South America.
- Me gustaría ser escritora. - I'd like to be a writer.
- Me gustaría comprarme un coche nuevo. - I'd like to buy a new car.
- Me encantaría tener una casa al lado del mar. - I'd love to have a house by the sea.
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Essential Rules to Remember:
- Accent marks are crucial: All conditional endings have an accent on the í. Don't forget this when writing!
- Irregular stems: The irregular conditional stems are the same as the irregular future tense stems, so learning one helps with both tenses.
- Pronunciation: The stress always falls on the accented í in the ending.
- Politeness: Using the conditional instead of the present tense makes you sound more polite and respectful.
Translation practice
Practice Exercise: Spanish ↔ English
Spanish to English:
- ¿Podrías cerrar la ventana?
- Me gustaría vivir en España.
English to Spanish: 3. I would never do that. 4. We could go to the cinema tonight.
Answers:
- Could you close the window?
- I would like to live in Spain.
- Nunca haría eso.
- Podríamos ir al cine esta noche.
Key Points to Remember:
- The conditional is formed by adding -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían to the infinitive
- Some common verbs have irregular stems but use the same endings
- Use it for hypothetical situations, polite requests, and expressing desires
- All conditional endings have an accent mark on the í
- "Me gustaría" (I would like) is one of the most useful conditional phrases to learn