B2 · Intermedio alto Capítulo 20

Hypotheticals and Polite Requests

6 Reglas totales
60 ejemplos
7 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of nuance by using the conditional tense to express polite requests and hypothetical scenarios.

  • Conjugate the 'Big Three' irregular verbs in the conditional.
  • Construct complex 'would' sentences for social grace.
  • Apply the conditional to speculate about past events.
Speak with grace: Master the Portuguese conditional.

Lo que aprenderás

Ready to elevate your Portuguese and sound truly authentic? This chapter is your key to unlocking sophisticated and nuanced conversations, just like a native speaker! Here, you'll dive deep into the Conditional tense (Futuro do Pretérito) to express everything from polite desires and hypothetical scenarios to educated guesses about the past. We'll start by mastering the Big Three irregular verbs—dizer, fazer, and trazer—which transform into dir-, far-, and trar- before taking their endings. Then, you'll discover how effortlessly you can form the would tense in Portuguese by adding simple -ia endings to verb infinitives. Imagine yourself in a crucial situation, perhaps delicately negotiating a business deal or making a very polite request to a waiter in a chic restaurant. These skills will empower you to express yourself with grace and avoid sounding overly direct. Or, think about those times you want to speculate about past events, expressing doubt or suggesting possibilities—like saying,

He must have been there
or
She would have known.
This chapter gives you the tools to do just that. We’ll build your foundation with the irregular Big Three, then move to the general pattern of conditional formation for all other verbs. Finally, you’ll learn to leverage this versatile tense for expressing probabilities and conjectures about past situations. By the end of this chapter, you’ll confidently construct complex conditional sentences, make impeccable polite requests, and discuss past events with subtle nuance. Your conversations will gain depth and professionalism, making you feel truly at home in Portuguese. No hypothetical situation or polite inquiry will be beyond your expressive reach!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'faria', 'diria', and 'traria' to make refined requests in restaurant or business settings.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Ready to truly elevate your Portuguese and sound just like a native speaker? This chapter is your essential guide to unlocking sophisticated and nuanced conversations. We’re diving deep into the Conditional tense, known in Portuguese as the Futuro do Pretérito, a versatile tool that allows you to express everything from polite desires and hypothetical scenarios to educated guesses about the past.
Mastering this tense is a crucial step for B2 Portuguese grammar learners aiming for fluency and authenticity.
Imagine yourself in a situation where you need to make a delicate request, negotiate a business deal, or simply express a wish without sounding overly direct. The Conditional tense empowers you to do just that, adding grace and professionalism to your speech. You'll learn how to form the would tense in Portuguese, starting with the Big Three irregular verbs—dizer (to say), fazer (to do/make), and trazer (to bring)—which transform into dir-, far-, and trar- before taking their endings.
Beyond politeness, this tense is invaluable for speculating about past events. Ever wanted to say,
He must have been there
or
She would have known
in Portuguese? This chapter provides the tools to express doubt, suggest possibilities, and make conjectures about past situations with subtle nuance.
By the end, you'll confidently construct complex conditional sentences, make impeccable polite requests, and discuss past events like a seasoned Portuguese speaker. This is a game-changer for your Portuguese grammar B2 journey!

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of this chapter is the Futuro do Pretérito, or the Conditional tense, which primarily translates to would in English. We'll start by mastering the Big Three irregular verbs, which are crucial for the "Future & Conditional Stems: I will/would do (dir, far, trar)" rule. These verbs have unique stems:
* Dizer (to say) becomes dir-
* Fazer (to do/make) becomes far-
* Trazer (to bring) becomes trar-
These stems then take the standard conditional endings. For example, fazer (to do/make) conjugates as:
* Eu faria (I would do/make)
* Tu farias (You would do/make)
* Ele/Ela/Você faria (He/She/You would do/make)
* Nós faríamos (We would do/make)
* Vós faríeis (You all would do/make - mostly European Portuguese)
* Eles/Elas/Vocês fariam (They/You all would do/make)
This covers the "Short & Sweet: Irregular Conditional Stems
rule. For all other regular verbs, forming the Conditional is incredibly straightforward, aligning with the
Portuguese Conditional Tense: Saying 'Would' (Futuro do Pretérito) and Portuguese Conditional: Expressing 'Would' (Eu faria)
rules. You simply take the infinitive form of the verb and add the same
-ia" endings.
For example, with falar (to speak):
* Eu falaria (I would speak)
* Tu falarias (You would speak)
* Ele/Ela/Você falaria (He/She/You would speak)
* Nós falaríamos (We would speak)
* Vós falaríeis (You all would speak)
* Eles/Elas/Vocês falariam (They/You all would speak)
This pattern applies to all regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs. This elegant simplicity makes the "Portuguese Conditional: The 'Would' Tense (Futuro do Pretérito)
surprisingly easy to grasp. Finally, this tense is also used for
Guessing the Past: Using the Conditional for Probability." For instance, Ele estaria em casa (He would probably be at home / He must have been at home).
This allows you to express conjectures about past events, adding a layer of sophisticated nuance to your conversations.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Você vai me ajudar com isso?
    (Are you going to help me with this?)
✓ Correct:
Você me ajudaria com isso?
(Would you help me with this?)
*Explanation:* While the first sentence is grammatically correct, using the simple future (vai ajudar) can sound too direct or demanding when making a request. The Conditional tense (ajudaria) is much more polite and appropriate for asking for favors or making suggestions in Portuguese.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Eu fazeria o jantar se tivesse tempo.
    (I would make dinner if I had time.)
✓ Correct:
Eu faria o jantar se tivesse tempo.
(I would make dinner if I had time.)
*Explanation:* This common error involves regularizing the irregular verb fazer. Remember the "Short & Sweet: Irregular Conditional Stems" rule: fazer becomes far-, not fazer-. The same applies to dizer (diria, not dizeria) and trazer (traria, not trazeria).
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Ele provavelmente estava lá.
    (He probably was there.)
✓ Correct: Ele estaria lá. (He must have been there / He would have been there.)
*Explanation:* While provavelmente estava is understandable, using the Conditional tense (estaria) for
Guessing the Past: Using the Conditional for Probability
is a more natural and idiomatic way to express conjecture or an educated guess about a past event in Portuguese. It implies a higher degree of speculation or a milder assertion.

Real Conversations

A

A

Você poderia me dar uma informação? (Could you give me some information?)
B

B

Claro! O que você gostaria de saber? (Of course! What would you like to know?)
A

A

Se eu tivesse mais dinheiro, viajaria o mundo todo. (If I had more money, I would travel the whole world.)
B

B

Eu também faria o mesmo! (I would do the same too!)
A

A

Onde estaria ele ontem à noite? Não o vi em lugar nenhum. (Where would he have been last night? I didn't see him anywhere.)
B

B

Ele talvez estaria em casa, cansado do trabalho. (He might have been home, tired from work.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What is the difference between the Conditional and the Simple Future in Portuguese?

The Simple Future (futuro do presente) describes actions that *will* definitely happen (e.g., Eu farei - I will do). The Conditional (futuro do pretérito) expresses actions that *would* happen under certain conditions, polite requests, or conjectures about the past (e.g., Eu faria - I would do).

Q

Are there many irregular verbs in the Portuguese Conditional besides dizer, fazer, and trazer?

No, thankfully! These Big Three are the most common and important irregular verbs for the Conditional tense in Portuguese. Most other verbs follow the regular pattern of adding the -ia endings to their infinitive form.

Q

Can I use the Conditional to talk about things I *used to* do?

No, the Conditional tense is not typically used for past habits. For actions you *used to* do, you should use the Imperfect tense (pretérito imperfeito), such as Eu falava (I used to speak). The Conditional expresses would in hypothetical or polite contexts.

Q

How does the Conditional help with sounding more polite in Portuguese?

Using the Conditional tense softens requests and suggestions, making them less direct and more respectful. For example, instead of Quero um café (I want a coffee),

Gostaria de um café
(I would like a coffee) is much politer and more common in formal or service interactions.

Cultural Context

In Portuguese-speaking cultures, particularly in more formal settings or when interacting with strangers, politeness is highly valued. The Conditional tense is your go-to tool for demonstrating this respect. Using forms like gostaria (I would like) or poderia (you could/would be able to) in polite requests is not just good grammar; it's a social expectation.
It subtly conveys deference and consideration, making your interactions smoother and more positive. Mastering this aspect of Portuguese grammar will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in various social situations, from a chic restaurant to a professional meeting.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

Eu **farei** o upload do vídeo amanhã cedo.

Subiré el video mañana temprano.

Radicales de Futuro y Condicional: haré/haría (dir, far, trar)
2

Você me **diria** qual é a senha do Wi-Fi?

¿Me dirías cuál es la contraseña del Wi-Fi?

Radicales de Futuro y Condicional: haré/haría (dir, far, trar)
3

Eu faria tudo diferente se tivesse outra chance.

Haría todo diferente si tuviera otra oportunidad.

Cortos y Dulces: Raíces Irregulares del Condicional
4

Você me faria um favorzinho?

¿Me harías un favorcito?

Cortos y Dulces: Raíces Irregulares del Condicional
5

Eu gostaria de um café, por favor.

I would like a coffee, please.

Condicional en portugués: Cómo decir 'iría' (Futuro do Pretérito)
6

Se eu tivesse dinheiro, viajaria pelo mundo.

If I had money, I would travel the world.

Condicional en portugués: Cómo decir 'iría' (Futuro do Pretérito)
7

Eu comeria uma pizza inteira agora.

Me comería una pizza entera ahora mismo.

El condicional en portugués: Expresar 'haría' (Eu faria)
8

Você poderia me passar o sal?

¿Podrías pasarme la sal?

El condicional en portugués: Expresar 'haría' (Eu faria)

Consejos y trucos (4)

🎯

La 'R' es tu brújula

Cada forma de futuro o condicional en portugués debe tener obligatoriamente una 'r' antes de la terminación personal:
Eu faria tudo de novo por você.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Radicales de Futuro y Condicional: haré/haría (dir, far, trar)
⚠️

¡Cuidado con el español!

No digas 'podria' como en español; en portugués el verbo 'Poder' es totalmente regular: Eu poderia viajar.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cortos y Dulces: Raíces Irregulares del Condicional
💡

The Infinitive Base

Always use the full infinitive (falar, comer, partir) as your base. Don't drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Condicional en portugués: Cómo decir 'iría' (Futuro do Pretérito)
🎯

El atajo brasileño

En una charla relajada entre amigos o en un bar, los brasileños suelen usar el imperfecto para sonar más naturales:
Eu queria um cafezinho, por favor.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: El condicional en portugués: Expresar 'haría' (Eu faria)

Vocabulario clave (6)

Faria Would do/make Diria Would say Traria Would bring Gostaria Would like Poderia Could (would be able to) Seria Would be

Real-World Preview

coffee

Fine Dining Request

Review Summary

  • Stem + -ia, -ias, -ia, -íamos, -íeis, -iam
  • Infinitive + -ia endings

Errores comunes

Using 'quero' is too direct. 'Gostaria' is the polite way to express desire.

Wrong: Eu quero um café.
Correcto: Eu gostaria de um café.

Students often treat irregulars as regulars. Remember the stem 'far-'.

Wrong: Eu fazeria isso.
Correcto: Eu faria isso.

When speculating about location, use 'estar' in the conditional, not 'ser'.

Wrong: Ele teria sido lá.
Correcto: Ele estaria lá.

Reglas en este capítulo (6)

1

Radicales de Futuro y Condicional: haré/haría (dir, far, trar)

B2
Domina el 'Trío Dinámico' (dir, far, trar) para desbloquear un nivel de fluidez profesional en tus conversaciones.
Eu **farei** o upload do vídeo amanhã cedo.
10 ejemplos
2

Cortos y Dulces: Raíces Irregulares del Condicional

B2
Los verbos Dizer, Fazer y Trazer acortan sus raíces a dir-, far- y trar- antes de sumar las terminaciones del condicional.
Eu faria tudo diferente se tivesse outra chance.
10 ejemplos
3

Condicional en portugués: Cómo decir 'iría' (Futuro do Pretérito)

B2
Use the infinitive plus -ia endings to talk about hypothetical 'would' scenarios and polite requests in Portuguese.
Eu gostaria de um café, por favor.
10 ejemplos
4

El condicional en portugués: Expresar 'haría' (Eu faria)

B2
El condicional portugués te ayuda a expresar deseos hipotéticos y peticiones amables usando terminaciones suaves como faria, diria o traria.
Eu comeria uma pizza inteira agora.
10 ejemplos
5

Condicional en portugués: El tiempo 'sería' (Futuro do Pretérito)

B2
El condicional crea escenarios hipotéticos y peticiones amables añadiendo terminaciones específicas como gostaria, poderia y faria.
Eu gostaria de um café, por favor.
10 ejemplos
6

Adivinando el pasado: El Condicional para probabilidad

B2
Usa el condicional (Futuro do Pretérito) para lanzar hipótesis, expresar dudas o mencionar hechos no verificados sobre el pasado con herramientas como seria, estaria y teria feito.
Onde ela estaria àquela hora da noite?
10 ejemplos

Next Steps

You have navigated the conditional tense like a pro! Keep practicing these forms in your daily life to make them second nature.

Listen to a Portuguese podcast and note every time you hear a verb ending in -ia.

Continue to: Advanced Timelines and Completed Actions

Práctica rápida (10)

¿Qué frase es gramaticalmente correcta?

Elige la forma condicional correcta para 'trazer'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós traríamos bebidas.
La raíz es 'trar-' y la forma de 'nós' lleva tilde en la terminación: 'traríamos'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cortos y Dulces: Raíces Irregulares del Condicional

Completa el espacio con la forma correcta del condicional de 'falar'.

Eu ___ com ele, mas não tenho o número dele.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: falaria
Usamos 'falaria' porque expresa algo que sucedería bajo una condición: tener su número.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: El condicional en portugués: Expresar 'haría' (Eu faria)

Completa el espacio con la forma correcta del condicional de 'comer'.

Eu ___ uma pizza inteira agora!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: comeria
Para la primera persona del singular 'Eu', añadimos '-ia' al infinitivo 'comer'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Condicional en portugués: El tiempo 'sería' (Futuro do Pretérito)

¿Qué frase es educada y gramaticalmente correcta?

Elige la opción correcta en condicional:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você me traria um copo de água?
'Trazer' se convierte en 'trar-' en el condicional. Al añadir '-ia' para 'você' obtenemos 'traria'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Radicales de Futuro y Condicional: haré/haría (dir, far, trar)

Encuentra y corrige el error en esta frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Nós falariamos com ele se tivéssemos tempo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós falaríamos com ele se tivéssemos tempo.
La forma 'nós' del condicional siempre requiere tilde en la 'í' (falaríamos).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Condicional en portugués: El tiempo 'sería' (Futuro do Pretérito)

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu faria isso se eu posso.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu faria isso se eu pudesse.
The 'if' clause requires the imperfect subjunctive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Condicional en portugués: Cómo decir 'iría' (Futuro do Pretérito)

Encuentra el error en esta petición educada.

Find and fix the mistake:

Você pode me emprestar dez reais?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você poderia me emprestar dez reais?
'Poderia' es el condicional de 'poder' y se usa para que la petición sea mucho más amable.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: El condicional en portugués: Expresar 'haría' (Eu faria)

¿Qué frase expresa correctamente un rumor o noticia no verificada?

Elige la frase correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O gerente teria roubado o banco.
'Teria roubado' es el condicional periodístico, que significa que 'supuestamente' lo robó. La primera opción lo da por probado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adivinando el pasado: El Condicional para probabilidad

Corrige la traducción poco natural para estimar la hora.

Find and fix the mistake:

Quando cheguei, deve ter sido umas 10 da noite.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quando cheguei, seriam umas 10 da noite.
Para estimar una hora en el pasado, usa el condicional de 'ser' (seriam), concordando con el plural '10'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adivinando el pasado: El Condicional para probabilidad

¿Cuál de estas frases usa correctamente un verbo irregular?

Elige la frase correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu faria o bolo hoje.
'Fazer' es irregular en el condicional; su raíz cambia a 'far-'. 'Fazia' es pasado imperfecto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: El condicional en portugués: Expresar 'haría' (Eu faria)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

¡Así es! Dizer, Fazer y Trazer son los únicos tres verbos en todo el idioma que cambian su raíz en estos tiempos:
Eu farei isso depois.
En el habla casual de Brasil es muy común usar 'ia' seguido del infinitivo, pero 'faria' es mucho más elegante:
Eu faria o bolo hoje.
¡La evolución del idioma es caprichosa! La mayoría de los verbos se regularizaron, pero estos tres se usan tanto que mantuvieron sus formas cortas antiguas como diria.
¡Aunque no lo creas, no! En el condicional es regular basándose en su infinitivo:
Eu poria la mesa
.
No, use the future indicative for facts. The conditional is for hypothetical events.
Because it describes a future action from the perspective of the past.
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