The Use of the Present Conditional

There are four main verb moods (modes de temps) in French: the indicative, the subjunctive, the conditional and the imperative. In this chapter, we will study the conditional. There are two tenses that use the conditional mood: the present conditional and the past conditional.

First, we will study the present conditional, its form and its use. In this lesson, we will explore the cases that require the present conditionnal.

It is important to remember that the present conditionnal is used to express eventuality, uncertainty, and a possible consequence of a condition. It is used in the following cases:

In polite requests

Pourriez-vous m’aider à retrouver mes lunettes s’il vous plaît ?
Could you help me find my glasses please?

Pourrais-je vous parler une seconde s’il vous plaît ?
Could I talk to you for a second please?

Voudriez-vous que je vous accompagne ?
Would you like me to go with you?

To express a possible consequence

In this case, the conditional follows a verb clause that starts with “si” and which verb is usually in the imparfait tense.

Si j’avais beaucoup d’argent, j'achèterais une belle maison de campagne.
If I had a lot of money, I would buy a nice country house.

Si nous habitions en ville, nous vendrions notre voiture.
If we lived in town, we would sell our car.

Si tu savais à quel point elle a souffert, tu la traiterais avec beaucoup plus de respect.
If you knew how much she suffered, you would treat her with a lot more respect.

Que feriez-vous si vous étiez le président de la République française ?
What would you do if you were the President of the French Republic?

To express a wish, a desire in the present

Je prendrais bien un autre verre.
I wouldn’t say no to a refill.

Il aimerait nous accompagner. Est-ce que c’est possible de l’emmener avec nous ?
He’d like to come with us. Is it possible to take him with us?

J’aimerais passer mes vacances à Hawaï.
I would love to spend my vacation in Hawaii.

To express a supposition in the present

In this case, we generally use the verb “être”.

Apparemment, elle serait très en colère contre nous. C’est pour ça qu’elle est partie sans nous dire au revoir.
Apparently, she is very mad at us. That’s why she didn’t say goodbye to us when she left.

Les négociations seraient en cours en ce moment.
Apparently, the negotiations are in progress at this moment.

D’après mes informations, ils seraient prêts à accepter nos conditions.
From what I heard, they are ready to accept our conditions.

To give advice

Si j’étais à ta place, je prendrais un long congé pour me reposer.
If I were you, I’d take a long vacation to rest.

Vous devriez leur interdire de vous parler ainsi.
You should forbid them to talk to you like this.

Tu devrais t’occuper de tes problèmes d’abord.
You should take care of your problems first.

To make suggestions

In this case, we generally use the verb “pouvoir” in the present conditional:
On pourrait aller voir un film ensemble.
We could go to see a movie together.

Ils pourraient peut-être passer vous prendre !
They could maybe come and pick you up!

Nous pourrions nous marier cet été. Qu’en dis-tu ?
We could get married this summer. What do you say?

In reported speech

The future simple changes to the present conditional in reported speech.

Il m’a dit qu’elle arriverait en retard.
He told me that she would arrive late.

Vous avez déclaré que vous ne vous porteriez pas candidat aux prochaines élections.
You declared that you would not run for office in upcoming elections.

Nous vous avons pourtant prévenus que nous n’irions pas avec vous.
We warned you, though, that we would not go with you.