B2 Future & Conditional 13 min read Medium

French Wishes and Regrets (Conditionnel)

The conditional mood turns your 'will' into 'would' for dreaming and your 'was' into 'should have' for regrets.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The conditional mood is used to express wishes, polite requests, and hypothetical scenarios using the stem of the future tense plus imparfait endings.

  • Use it for politeness: 'Je voudrais un café' (I would like a coffee).
  • Use it for hypothetical wishes: 'J'aimerais voyager' (I would like to travel).
  • Use it for regrets: 'J'aurais dû étudier' (I should have studied - note: requires past conditional).
Future Stem + Imparfait Endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient)

Overview

In French, the conditional mood (le conditionnel) is the grammatical territory of the hypothetical, the potential, and the imagined. It allows you to detach from the fixed reality of the present and past to explore wishes, possibilities, and regrets. For a B2 learner, mastering the conditional is a significant step toward nuanced and sophisticated expression.

It's the difference between stating a simple fact and discussing what could be or what should have been.

This guide focuses on two primary functions: expressing wishes about the present or future using the conditionnel présent, and articulating regrets about the past using the conditionnel passé. The first is for daydreaming and polite requests (J'aimerais être en vacances - I'd like to be on vacation). The second is the tense of hindsight and self-correction (J'aurais dû étudier davantage - I should have studied more).

Understanding the logic behind the conditional—its formation and its function in hypothetical si clauses—is crucial for discussing complex ideas and expressing a full range of human emotions, from desire to disappointment.

Conjugation Table

Pronoun parler (-er) finir (-ir) vendre (-re) avoir (irreg.) être (irreg.) aller (irreg.) faire (irreg.)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
je/j' parlerais finirais vendrais aurais serais irais ferais
tu parlerais finirais vendrais aurais serais irais ferais
il/elle/on parlerait finirait vendrait aurait serait irait ferait
nous parlerions finirions vendrions aurions serions irions ferions
vous parleriez finiriez vendriez auriez seriez iriez feriez
ils/elles parleraient finiraient vendraient auraient seraient iraient feraient
Structure Verb with avoir Verb with être
--- --- ---
Formula avoir (in cond. présent) + past participle être (in cond. présent) + past participle
Example j'aurais parlé (I would have spoken) je serais allé(e) (I would have gone)
Full Form elle aurait fini (she would have finished) elles seraient parties (they would have left)

How This Grammar Works

The conditional is a mood, not just a tense. A tense situates an action in time (past, present, future), while a mood reflects the speaker's attitude or perspective on that action (e.g., certainty, doubt, command, hypothesis). The conditionnel is the mood of unreality and potentiality.
The key to understanding its formation lies in its hybrid nature. The stem is from the futur simple, which points toward a future or potential event. The endings are from the imparfait (-ais, -ais, -ait...), which traditionally describes past states or uncompleted actions.
By fusing these two, French creates a form that means "what would happen"—a potential future anchored in a non-real or past context. For example, in je mangerais, the manger- stem points to the action of eating, while the -ais ending places it in a hypothetical frame.
For the conditionnel passé, the logic extends further. This compound tense uses the auxiliary verb (avoir or être) in the conditionnel présent (j'aurais, je serais). The auxiliary carries the hypothetical mood, indicating that the entire context is unreal.
The past participle (fait, venu) then specifies the action that would have occurred within that unreal past. Thus, j'aurais su literally means "I would have known," signaling a piece of knowledge you could have possessed in a past that did not happen.

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering the conditional requires two distinct patterns: one for the present conditional and one for the past.
2
Conditionnel Présent
3
The Core Rule: Start with the infinitive of the verb. This is your stem. For most -er and -ir verbs, it's that simple. For regular -re verbs, drop the final -e from the infinitive before adding the endings.
4
The Endings: Attach the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
5
parler → parler- + -ais → je parlerais
6
vendre → vendr- + -ait → il vendrait
7
Irregular Stems: A set of common verbs use irregular stems, but these are the exact same stems used for the futur simple. If you know the future, you know the conditional.
8
être → ser- (e.g., je serais)
9
avoir → aur- (e.g., tu aurais)
10
aller → ir- (e.g., elle irait)
11
faire → fer- (e.g., nous ferions)
12
pouvoir → pourr- (e.g., vous pourriez)
13
vouloir → voudr- (e.g., ils voudraient)
14
devoir → devr- (e.g., je devrais)
15
voir → verr- (e.g., tu verrais)
16
Conditionnel Passé
17
The Formula: This is a two-part structure: Auxiliary in Conditionnel Présent + Main Verb's Past Participle.
18
Step 1: Conjugate avoir or être into the conditionnel présent based on the subject (j'aurais, tu serais, etc.).
19
Step 2: Add the past participle of the main verb (mangé, parti, fait).
20
J'aurais mangé (I would have eaten)
21
Je serais allé(e) (I would have gone)
22
Agreement Rules Apply: Remember that with être, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject (elle serait venue, nous serions restés). With avoir, the participle agrees with a preceding direct object (La pomme que j'aurais mangée...).

When To Use It

Beyond wishes and regrets, the conditional serves several key functions in everyday French.
  • Polite Requests: This is its most common daily use. Using the conditional softens a request, making it less direct and demanding than the present tense or imperative.
  • Je voudrais un croissant, s'il vous plaît. (I would like a croissant, please.)
  • Pourriez-vous m'aider ? (Could you help me?)
  • Expressing Wishes and Desires: For dreaming about a different reality. Aimer is very common here.
  • J'aimerais habiter en Italie. (I would love to live in Italy.)
  • On irait bien à la plage ce week-end. (We'd really like to go to the beach this weekend.)
  • Giving Advice: The conditional is the classic form for offering suggestions without imposing them.
  • Tu devrais parler à ton professeur. (You should talk to your professor.)
  • À ta place, je n'accepterais pas. (If I were you, I wouldn't accept.)
  • Hypothetical Scenarios (Si Clauses): The conditional is essential for constructing if...then sentences about unreal situations.
  • Present/Future Unreal Condition: Si + imparfait, ... conditionnel présent.
  • Si j'avais plus d'argent, j'achèterais une nouvelle voiture. (If I had more money, I would buy a new car.)
  • Past Unreal Condition (Regret): Si + plus-que-parfait, ... conditionnel passé.
  • Si tu m'avais prévenu, je serais venu plus tôt. (If you had warned me, I would have come earlier.)
  • Expressing Regret: Primarily uses the conditionnel passé with modal verbs devoir and pouvoir.
  • J'aurais dû écouter. (I should have listened.)
  • Nous aurions pu gagner. (We could have won.)
  • Reporting Unconfirmed Information (Journalistic Conditional): In news media, the conditional is used to report events that are not yet verified. It creates distance between the journalist and the claim.
  • Le premier ministre s'envolerait pour Washington demain. (The prime minister will reportedly fly to Washington tomorrow.)
  • Selon des témoins, le suspect aurait pris la fuite. (According to witnesses, the suspect allegedly fled.)
  • The Future in the Past: When telling a story set in the past, you use the conditional to talk about something that was in the future at that moment.
  • Il a promis qu'il ne le referait jamais. (He promised he would never do it again.)

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently stumble in a few predictable areas when using the conditional mood.
  • The "Si...rais" Error: This is the most infamous mistake. Never use the conditional (-rais endings) in the clause immediately following si when expressing a hypothesis. The French have a mnemonic for it: "Les 'si' n'aiment pas les 'rais'."
  • Incorrect: Si j'aurais le temps, je viendrais.
  • Correct: Si j'avais le temps, je viendrais.
  • Confusing Futur and Conditionnel: The pronunciation difference between je mangerai (future, [e]) and je mangerais (conditional, [ɛ]) is subtle but crucial. In many parts of France, the distinction is eroding in casual speech, but in standard French and for exams, it matters. The context of a si clause is your best guide.
  • Using Conditionnel for Past Habits: English uses "would" for both hypotheticals (I would go if...) and past habits (When I was young, I would go...). French is stricter. For past habits, always use the imparfait.
  • Incorrect: Quand j'étais petit, je jouerais dehors.
  • Correct: Quand j'étais petit, je jouais dehors.
  • Forgetting Participle Agreement: In the conditionnel passé, all the standard agreement rules for compound tenses apply. It's easy to forget when focusing on the new mood.
  • Incorrect: Elle serait parti sans nous.
  • Correct: Elle serait partie sans nous.
  • Mixing up aurais and avais: These look and sound similar. J'avais is the imparfait of avoir (I had). J'aurais is the conditionnel présent of avoir (I would have). The former states a past fact; the latter introduces a past hypothesis.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To use the conditional correctly, you must distinguish it from the futur simple and the imparfait, which often use similar-sounding forms.
| Tense / Mood | Form (1st person singular) | Function & Certainty | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Futur Simple | je parlerai | A future plan or certainty. It will happen. | Demain, je parlerai au patron. | Tomorrow, I will speak to the boss. |
| Conditionnel Présent | je parlerais | A hypothetical, potential, or desired action. It would happen (if...). | Si j'osais, je parlerais au patron. | If I dared, I would speak to the boss. |
| Imparfait | je parlais | A past description, background action, or habit. It was happening or used to happen. | Je parlais au patron quand le téléphone a sonné. | I was speaking to the boss when the phone rang. |
Furthermore, it's vital to distinguish the roles within a past hypothetical sentence. The plus-que-parfait sets the unreal condition, while the conditionnel passé states the unreal result.
  • Si j'avais su... (If I had known...) → This is the condition. It uses the plus-que-parfait to establish a past scenario that did not occur.
  • ...j'aurais agi différemment. (...I would have acted differently.) → This is the result. It uses the conditionnel passé to describe the outcome that did not happen because the condition was not met.

Real Conversations

Here’s how the conditional appears in modern, authentic contexts.

1. Texting a friend about plans:

- A: Hey, ça te dit un ciné ce soir ? (Hey, up for a movie tonight?)

- B: Ah, j'aimerais trop ! Mais je peux pas, j'ai un dîner de famille. On aurait dû s'organiser plus tôt. (Ah, I'd love to! But I can't, I have a family dinner. We should have organized sooner.)

2. Polite professional email:

- Bonjour M. Lefèvre,

Je me permets de vous contacter car je souhaiterais obtenir des informations sur le projet X. Serait-il possible d'en discuter brièvement cette semaine ?

(Hello Mr. Lefèvre, I'm taking the liberty of contacting you because I would like to obtain some information on project X. Would it be possible to discuss it briefly this week?)

3. Social media post (Instagram caption on a travel photo):

- Take me back... Je crois que je pourrais vivre là-bas. Un jour, peut-être ! (Take me back... I think I could live there. One day, maybe!)

4. Discussing a missed opportunity:

- Tu as vu le prix des billets ? Ils ont doublé ! (Did you see the price of the tickets? They've doubled!)

- Sérieux ? J'aurais tellement dû les acheter hier. Quel regret. (Seriously? I so should have bought them yesterday. What a regret.)

Progressive Practice

1

Work through these exercises to solidify your understanding.

2

- Level 1 (Formation): Write the vous form of the conditionnel présent for these verbs: pouvoir, finir, être, savoir.

3

- Answers: vous pourriez, vous finiriez, vous seriez, vous sauriez.

4

- Level 2 (Wish vs. Regret): Choose between conditionnel présent and conditionnel passé.

5

En ce moment, j'(aimer) ________ être à la plage. (Right now, I'd like to be at the beach.)

6

Hier, j'(devoir) ________ appeler ma mère pour son anniversaire, j'ai oublié. (Yesterday, I should have called my mom for her birthday, I forgot.)

- Answers: 1. aimerais, 2. aurais dû.

- Level 3 (Building Si Clauses): Combine these elements into a logical sentence.

- (Si / tu / étudier plus) + (tu / avoir de meilleures notes)

- Answer: Si tu étudiais plus, tu aurais de meilleures notes.

- Level 4 (Expressing Regret): You arrive late to a meeting. How would you say: "I'm sorry, I should have left earlier."?

- Answer: Je suis désolé(e), j'aurais dû partir plus tôt.

- Level 5 (Contextual Application): Imagine your friend is thinking of quitting their job without another one lined up. Using À ta place..., give them advice.

- Example Answer: À ta place, je chercherais un autre travail avant de démissionner. Ce serait moins risqué. (If I were you, I would look for another job before resigning. It would be less risky.)

Quick FAQ

Q: Is the conditional a tense or a mood?

It is officially a mood (le mode conditionnel). It expresses the speaker's attitude (hypothesis, potentiality) toward an action, rather than simply placing it on a timeline. However, because it has its own "tenses" (présent and passé), it is often taught alongside the tenses of the indicative mood.

Q: What is the fastest way to say "I should have..."?

The fixed formula is J'aurais dû + infinitive. Commit it to memory. Example: J'aurais dû me taire. (I should have kept quiet.)

Q: What's the difference between je voudrais, j'aimerais, and je souhaiterais?

They vary in formality and intensity. Je voudrais (I would like) is the neutral, all-purpose polite form. J'aimerais (I would love/like) is more personal and expresses a stronger desire. Je souhaiterais (I would wish) is the most formal and is typically reserved for formal writing.

Q: Can you clarify je pourrais vs. j'aurais pu?

Je pourrais means "I could" and refers to a present or future possibility (Je pourrais t'aider demain - I could help you tomorrow). J'aurais pu means "I could have" and refers to a missed or unrealized past possibility (J'aurais pu t'aider hier, mais tu n'as rien dit - I could have helped you yesterday, but you didn't say anything).

Q: Does the conditional always use irregular future stems?

Yes, always. The stem for the conditionnel présent is identical to the stem for the futur simple. If a verb is irregular in the future (ir-, fer-, ser-, etc.), it is irregular in exactly the same way in the conditional.

Q: What is the role of au cas où?

The phrase au cas où ("in case") is a key trigger for the conditional in French. It introduces a potential situation for which one should prepare. Example: Prends ton manteau au cas où il ferait froid ce soir. (Take your coat in case it gets cold tonight.)

Conditional Conjugation of 'Parler'

Subject Stem Ending Result
Je
parler
ais
parlerais
Tu
parler
ais
parlerais
Il/Elle
parler
ait
parlerait
Nous
parler
ions
parlerions
Vous
parler
iez
parleriez
Ils/Elles
parler
aient
parleraient

Meanings

The conditional mood expresses actions that are dependent on a condition or are presented as polite, subjective, or uncertain.

1

Politeness

Softening a request or desire.

“Je voudrais une table pour deux.”

“Pourriez-vous m'aider ?”

2

Hypothetical

Describing a situation that depends on a condition.

“Je voyagerais si j'étais riche.”

“Il viendrait s'il était invité.”

3

Regret/Advice

Expressing what should or could have happened.

“Tu devrais dormir plus.”

“Il faudrait partir maintenant.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Wishes and Regrets (Conditionnel)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb(cond)
Je mangerais
Negative
Subject + ne + Verb(cond) + pas
Je ne mangerais pas
Interrogative
Verb(cond) + Subject?
Mangerais-tu ?
Polite Request
Voudrais + infinitive
Je voudrais partir
Hypothetical
Si + imparfait + conditionnel
Si j'étais riche, j'achèterais...
Regret (Past)
Avoir/Être(cond) + Participe Passé
J'aurais dû faire

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Je souhaiterais un café.

Je souhaiterais un café. (Ordering)

Neutral
Je voudrais un café.

Je voudrais un café. (Ordering)

Informal
Je prendrais bien un café.

Je prendrais bien un café. (Ordering)

Slang
Un café, s'il te plaît.

Un café, s'il te plaît. (Ordering)

Uses of the Conditional

Conditionnel

Politeness

  • Voudrais Would like

Hypothesis

  • Si... If...

Advice

  • Devrais Should
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Examples by Level

1

Je voudrais un café.

I would like a coffee.

2

Je voudrais manger.

I would like to eat.

3

Il voudrait de l'eau.

He would like some water.

4

Nous voudrions partir.

We would like to leave.

1

Pourriez-vous m'aider ?

Could you help me?

2

J'aimerais visiter Paris.

I would like to visit Paris.

3

Tu devrais dormir.

You should sleep.

4

Elle pourrait venir.

She could come.

1

Si j'avais le temps, je lirais.

If I had time, I would read.

2

Il faudrait étudier plus.

One should study more.

3

Nous irions au cinéma.

We would go to the cinema.

4

Ils mangeraient avec nous.

They would eat with us.

1

Je serais ravi de vous rencontrer.

I would be delighted to meet you.

2

Auriez-vous l'amabilité de m'écouter ?

Would you have the kindness to listen to me?

3

Il aurait dû me le dire.

He should have told me.

4

Je ne saurais vous répondre.

I wouldn't know how to answer you.

1

Le gouvernement aurait décidé de fermer les frontières.

The government has reportedly decided to close the borders.

2

On dirait qu'il va pleuvoir.

It looks like it's going to rain.

3

Je n'oserais jamais faire cela.

I would never dare to do that.

4

Il vaudrait mieux ne rien dire.

It would be better to say nothing.

1

Quand bien même il viendrait, je ne lui parlerais pas.

Even if he were to come, I would not speak to him.

2

Il eût fallu qu'il m'en parlât.

It would have been necessary for him to speak to me about it.

3

Je ne saurais trop vous recommander cette lecture.

I cannot recommend this reading enough.

4

Il serait, semble-t-il, arrivé à destination.

He would have, it seems, arrived at his destination.

Easily Confused

French Wishes and Regrets (Conditionnel) vs Conditional vs Future

Learners mix up 'will' and 'would'.

French Wishes and Regrets (Conditionnel) vs Conditional vs Subjunctive

Both sound 'fancy'.

French Wishes and Regrets (Conditionnel) vs Conditional vs Imparfait

Both use similar endings.

Common Mistakes

✗

Je veux un café

✓

Je voudrais un café

Use conditional for politeness.
✗

Tu veux m'aider ?

✓

Pourrais-tu m'aider ?

Conditional is more polite.
✗

Je veux aller

✓

J'aimerais aller

Conditional expresses desire.
✗

Il veut venir

✓

Il voudrait venir

Conditional is softer.
✗

Si j'ai le temps, je mangerais

✓

Si j'avais le temps, je mangerais

Si + imparfait.
✗

Je serai content si...

✓

Je serais content si...

Conditional for hypothesis.
✗

Tu dois dormir

✓

Tu devrais dormir

Conditional for advice.
✗

Si je serais riche

✓

Si j'étais riche

Never conditional after 'si'.
✗

Il faudrait qu'il vient

✓

Il faudrait qu'il vienne

Subjunctive after 'il faut que'.
✗

J'ai dû aller

✓

J'aurais dû aller

Past conditional for regret.
✗

Le journal dit qu'il va pleuvoir

✓

Le journal dit qu'il pleuvrait

Conditional for unconfirmed info.
✗

Je ne saurais pas

✓

Je ne saurais

Savoir in conditional doesn't need 'pas'.
✗

Il eût fallu qu'il vient

✓

Il eût fallu qu'il vînt

Literary sequence of tenses.

Sentence Patterns

Je voudrais ___.

Si j'avais ___, je ___.

Pourriez-vous ___ ?

Il faudrait que ___.

Real World Usage

Restaurant constant

Je voudrais commander.

Job Interview very common

Je serais ravi de travailler ici.

Texting common

Tu pourrais venir ?

Travel common

Pourriez-vous m'indiquer la gare ?

Social Media occasional

J'aimerais tellement être là !

Food Delivery App common

Je voudrais ajouter une sauce.

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💡

The 'R' Rule

If the verb ends in 'r', you already have the stem. Just add the ending.
⚠️

No 'Si' + Conditional

Never use the conditional after 'si' in a condition. Use the imparfait instead.
🎯

Politeness First

When in doubt, use 'Je voudrais' instead of 'Je veux' to avoid sounding rude.
💬

The 'Aurait' News

Journalists use the conditional to report unverified news. It's a key skill for reading French news.

Smart Tips

Always use 'Je voudrais' to sound like a local.

Je veux un café. → Je voudrais un café.

Use 'Tu devrais' to sound helpful rather than bossy.

Tu dois dormir. → Tu devrais dormir.

Use the conditional to make your dreams sound like real possibilities.

Je vais voyager. → Je voyagerais si je pouvais.

Look for the conditional to identify unconfirmed reports.

Le président a décidé... → Le président aurait décidé...

Pronunciation

parl-eh

Ending -ais

Pronounced like 'eh'.

parl-ee-ohn

Ending -ions

Pronounced 'ee-ohn'.

Polite Request

Pourriez-vous m'aider ↗

Rising intonation for politeness.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember the 'Future-Imparfait' hybrid: The stem is the Future, the ending is the Imparfait.

Visual Association

Imagine a 'Future' clock merging with an 'Imparfait' mirror to create a 'Conditional' dream bubble.

Rhyme

Stem of future, ending of past, the conditional is a blast!

Story

I wanted a coffee (Je voudrais). If I had money (Si j'avais), I would buy it (j'achèterais). But I forgot my wallet, so I should have checked (J'aurais dû vérifier).

Word Web

VoudraisPourraisDevraisSeraitAuraitFaudrait

Challenge

Write 3 things you would do if you were a millionaire in French.

Cultural Notes

Politeness is paramount. Using the conditional is a sign of respect.

The conditional is often used in the same way, but with a slightly different accent.

Very formal usage of the conditional in professional settings.

Derived from the Latin 'habebam' (imperfect of habere) attached to the infinitive.

Conversation Starters

“

Que feriez-vous si vous gagniez au loto ?

“

Pourriez-vous me conseiller un bon restaurant ?

“

Si vous pouviez voyager n'importe où, où iriez-vous ?

“

Que diriez-vous à votre moi du passé ?

Journal Prompts

Décrivez votre journée idéale.
Si vous étiez président, que changeriez-vous ?
Écrivez une lettre de plainte polie.
Quels conseils donneriez-vous à un débutant en français ?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Conjugate 'manger' for 'je'.

Je ___ une pomme.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mangerais
Conditional ending -ais.
Choose the correct polite form. Multiple Choice

___-vous m'aider ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pourriez
Conditional for politeness.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Si j'aurais le temps, je viendrais.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Si j'avais le temps...
Si + imparfait.
Change to conditional. Sentence Transformation

Je veux un café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je voudrais un café
Vouloir -> voudrais.
Conjugate 'être' for 'nous'. Conjugation Drill

Nous ___ heureux.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: serions
Stem 'ser-' + '-ions'.
Match the verb to its conditional stem. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: aur-
Future stem of avoir.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

je / vouloir / partir

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je voudrais partir
Subject + verb + infinitive.
Is this correct? True False Rule

Si je serais riche, j'achèterais une voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Faux
Si + imparfait.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate 'manger' for 'je'.

Je ___ une pomme.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mangerais
Conditional ending -ais.
Choose the correct polite form. Multiple Choice

___-vous m'aider ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pourriez
Conditional for politeness.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Si j'aurais le temps, je viendrais.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Si j'avais le temps...
Si + imparfait.
Change to conditional. Sentence Transformation

Je veux un café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je voudrais un café
Vouloir -> voudrais.
Conjugate 'être' for 'nous'. Conjugation Drill

Nous ___ heureux.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: serions
Stem 'ser-' + '-ions'.
Match the verb to its conditional stem. Match Pairs

Avoir -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: aur-
Future stem of avoir.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

je / vouloir / partir

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je voudrais partir
Subject + verb + infinitive.
Is this correct? True False Rule

Si je serais riche, j'achèterais une voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Faux
Si + imparfait.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Translate to French Translation

I should have studied more for the exam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'aurais dû étudier plus pour l'examen.
Reorder the words to make a sentence. Sentence Reorder

aurais / Si / su / j' / , / serais / je / venu / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Si j'avais su, je serais venu.
Complete the sentence Fill in the Blank

Nous (aimer) ___ bien voir ce film au cinéma.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: aimerions
Correct the verb agreement. Error Correction

Elle serait allé à la fête si elle avait pu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle serait allée à la fête si elle avait pu.
Which one is a regret? Multiple Choice

Identify the sentence expressing a past regret:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'aurais voulu être là.
Match the English regret with the French translation. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I could have -> J'aurais pu, I should have -> J'aurais dû, I would have -> J'aurais
Future or Conditional? Fill in the Blank

Il a dit qu'il (venir) ___ demain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: viendrait
Translate to French Translation

If I were you, I would tell the truth.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: À ta place, je dirais la vérité.
Choose the correct hypothetical structure. Multiple Choice

Si nous (avoir) ___ de l'argent, nous ferions le tour du monde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: avions
Complete with the correct auxiliary. Fill in the Blank

Elles ___ (être) parties plus tôt si le bus n'avait pas eu de retard.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: seraient

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Future is for certain plans ('I will'), conditional is for possibilities ('I would').

It is much more polite and socially acceptable in France.

Only if 'si' means 'whether' (e.g., 'I don't know if he would come'). Never if it means 'if'.

Use the future tense stem (e.g., 'ser-' for être, 'aur-' for avoir) and add the imparfait endings.

Yes, to report unconfirmed information.

It is used for regrets (e.g., 'I should have done'). It uses 'aurais/serais' + past participle.

They are different moods. Conditional is for 'would', subjunctive is for 'must/emotion'.

No, the endings are always -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Condicional

Spanish endings are slightly different.

German moderate

Konjunktiv II

French is synthetic (one word), German is analytic (two words).

English partial

Would + verb

French changes the verb form; English adds a word.

Japanese low

~tara / ~ba

Japanese is agglutinative; French is inflectional.

Arabic low

Law + verb

Arabic relies on particles rather than tense shifts.

Chinese low

Hui / Yao

Chinese has no verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Reporting Unconfirmed News (Journalistic Conditional)

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