Present conditional in French
The present conditional (French: le conditionnel présent) is generally used to express:
- The future of the past (events that, viewed from the past, take place at a later time)
- A polite request or a wish
- A possibility or assumption (with caution)
After the imperfect in a 'si' clause, the conditional is used in the main clause and with these following expressions, which set a condition: au cas où, dans le cas où, pour le cas où, dans l'hypothèse où.
| Sample sentences | Translations | Use |
|---|---|---|
Je ferais bien une tarte. | I would probably make a pie. | Assumption |
| Je comprendrais ta décision. | I would understand your decision. | Possibility |
| J'ai attendu qu'ils auraient le plus grand chien. | I heard that they would have the biggest dog. | Future of the past |
| Si je gagnais au loto, je ferais un voyage. | If I won the jackpot, I would do a journey. | 'si' clause |
| J'aimerais que tu ailles à la boutique. | I would like you to go to the shop. | wish, polite request |
| Au cas où nous serions absents | If ever we wouldn't be here. | expressions which set a condition |
Lesson Outline
Hide- 1.Formation of the present conditional in French
- 2.Regular forms of the present conditional
- 3.Irregular forms of the present conditional
- 3.1.Present conditional of être and avoir
- 3.2.Present conditional of 3rd group verbs
- 3.3.Present conditional of 3rd group that take a 'd'
- 4.Other irregular forms of the present conditional
- 5.Exercises
- 5.1.French conditional exercises I
- 5.2.French conditional exercises II
- 5.3.French present conditional exercise III
- 5.4.Question set exercise about the present conditional in French
Formation of the present conditional in French
The tense forms of the regular and irregular verbs are made up of:
- the infinitive form
- the imperfect endings: ais - ais - ait - ions - iez - iaient
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Regular forms of the present conditional
The present conditional for regular forms are the same for all verbs groups. They are composed of an -r- and the endings of the imperfect tense.
| Travailler (to work) | Dormir (to sleep) | Prendre (to take) |
|---|---|---|
Je travaillerais (I would work) | Je dormirais (I would sleep) | Je prendrais (I would take) |
| Tu travaillerais | Tu dormirais | Tu prendrais |
| Il/elle/on travaillerait | Il/elle/on dormirait | Il/elle/on prendrait |
| Nous travaillerions | Nous dormirions | Nous prendrions |
| Vous travailleriez | Vous dormiriez | Vous prendriez |
| Ils/elles travailleraient | Ils/elles dormiraient | Ils/elles prendraient |
Note that the regular verb that have 'y' changes to 'i'.
- Essuyer: J'essuierais, tu essuierais, il essuierait...
- Payer: je paierais, tu paierais, il paierait...
- Nettoyer: je nettoierais, tu nettoierais, il nettoierait...
Irregular forms of the present conditional
They are many verbs that make the conditional irregular: the auxiliary verbs 'être' and 'avoir' and verbs of the 3rd group. They differ from the remaining irregular verbs by their stem, and some take a 'd' before the endings.
Present conditional of être and avoir
être (to be) | avoir (to have) |
|---|---|
| Je serais | J'aurais |
| Tu serais | Tu aurais |
| Il/elle/on serait | Il/elle/on aurait |
| Nous serions | Nous aurions |
| Vous seriez | Vous auriez |
| Ils/elles seraient | Ils/elles auraient |
Present conditional of 3rd group verbs
| aller (to go) | voir (to see) | faire (to do) |
|---|---|---|
| J' irais | Je verrais | Je ferais |
| Tu irais | Tu verrais | Tu ferais |
| Il/elle/on irait | Il/elle/on verrait | Il/elle/on ferait |
| Nous irions | Nous verrions | Nous ferions |
| Vous iriez | Vous verriez | Vous feriez |
| Ils/elles iraient | Ils/elles verraient | Ils/elles feraient |
Present conditional of 3rd group that take a 'd'
| venir (to come) | tenir (to hold) | valoir (to worth) |
|---|---|---|
| Je viendrais | Je tiendrais | Je vaudrais |
| Tu viendrais | Tu tiendrais | Tu vaudrais |
| Il/elle/on viendrait | Il/elle/on tiendrait | Il/elle/on vaudrait |
| Nous viendrions | Nous tiendrions | Nous vaudrions |
| Vous viendriez | Vous tiendriez | Vous vaudriez |
| Ils/elles viendraient | Ils/elles tiendraient | Ils/elles vaudraient |
Other irregular forms of the present conditional
- Courrir: - elles courraient (they would run)
- Devoir - je devrais (I would have to)
- Envoyer - tu enverrais (you would send)
- Mourir - vous mourriez (you would die)
- Pouvoir - ils pourraient (they could)
- Recevoir - je recevrais (I would receive)
- Savoir - tu saurais (you would know)
- Vouloir - je voudrais (I would)
- Falloir - il faudrait (it would)
- Pleuvoir - il pleuvrait (it would rain)
You can memorize the irregular verb forms of le conditionnel présent, because they will most certainly meet you more frequently.
Exercises
- French conditional exercises I
- French conditional exercises II
- French present conditional exercise III
- Question set exercise about the present conditional in French
French conditional exercises I
French conditional exercises II
French present conditional exercise III
Question set exercise about the present conditional in French
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