B1 · Intermediate Chapter 34

Future, Conditional, and Polite Forms

9 Total Rules
94 examples
9 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the power of possibility and future planning in Portuguese.

  • Express polite requests and hypothetical desires.
  • Conjugate essential future and conditional tense verbs.
  • Navigate social scenarios involving future plans and invitations.
Speak with grace, plan with confidence.

What You'll Learn

Use the conditional for polite requests, the future tense, and master key irregular forms.

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'Gostaria' and 'Poderia' to make polite requests in a cafe setting.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Conjugate irregular verbs like 'Fazer' and 'Dizer' in the future tense.

Chapter Guide

Overview

This chapter is your gateway to expressing future plans, polite requests, and hypothetical situations in Portuguese. Mastering the future and conditional tenses, along with specific polite forms, is crucial for B1 learners to communicate with greater nuance and naturalness. You'll move beyond simple present and past tenses, gaining the ability to discuss possibilities, make soft suggestions, and convey respect in your interactions.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to confidently talk about what you "will do" (e.g., using the future of 'Poder', 'Dizer', 'Querer', and 'Fazer'), what you "would like" or "would do" (e.g., using 'Gostaria', 'Poderia', and regular conditional verbs), and even discuss life-changing events like "getting married" with appropriate verb forms. This knowledge will significantly enhance your ability to engage in more complex and sophisticated conversations.
You will learn the structure of regular future and conditional verbs, and conquer key irregular forms that are frequently used in daily conversation. The emphasis on polite forms like "Gostaria" and "Poderia" will also equip you to navigate social interactions with greater ease and cultural appropriateness, making your Portuguese sound much more native.

How This Grammar Works

The future and conditional tenses in Portuguese are built upon similar structures, often using the infinitive form of the verb as their base, with specific endings added. Many verbs, however, have irregular stems that need to be memorized. Politeness is often embedded within these tenses.
Polite Requests & Suggestions (Gostaria, Poderia):
For polite requests, the conditional tense is frequently used.
Gostaria de: 'I would like to'

Ex: Eu gostaria de um café, por favor. (I would like a coffee, please.)

Ex: Você gostaria de vir conosco? (Would you like to come with us?)

Poderia: 'Could you' or 'I/one could' (conditional of 'Poder')

Ex: Você poderia me ajudar? (Could you help me?)

Ex: Nós poderíamos ir mais tarde. (We could go later.)

Getting Married in Portuguese (Casar-se):
The verb 'casar' (to marry) is typically used reflexively as 'casar-se' (to get married).

Ex: Ela vai se casar no próximo ano. (She is going to get married next year.)

Ex: Eles se casariam se tivessem dinheiro. (They would get married if they had money.)

Portuguese Conditional: Regular -er Verbs (I would eat...):
For regular -er verbs, remove the -er and add the conditional endings to the *infinitive* (the full verb).
For 'você'/'ele'/'ela': infinitive + -ia

Ex: Você comeria um bolo agora? (Would you eat a cake now?) (Comer -> Comeria)

Ex: Ele viveria na praia se pudesse. (He would live on the beach if he could.) (Viver -> Viveria)

Future of 'Poder': Saying 'Will Be Able To':
The verb 'Poder' (to be able to) has an irregular future stem: 'poder-'. The endings are added to this stem.
For 'você'/'ele'/'ela': poder- + -á

Ex: Você poderá falar com ele amanhã. (You will be able to speak with him tomorrow.)

Saying 'Will Say' in Portuguese (Dizer Future):
The verb 'Dizer' (to say/tell) has an irregular future stem: 'dir-'.
For 'você'/'ele'/'ela': dir- + -á

Ex: Você dirá a verdade? (Will you tell the truth?)

Future Intentions: 'Will Want' (Querer no Futuro):
The verb 'Querer' (to want) has an irregular future stem: 'querer-'.
For 'você'/'ele'/'ela': querer- + -á

Ex: Você quererá um carro novo? (Will you want a new car?)

Portuguese Conditional: Would (-ir verbs):
For regular -ir verbs, add the conditional endings to the *infinitive* (the full verb).
For 'você'/'ele'/'ela': infinitive + -ia

Ex: Você abriria a janela para mim? (Would you open the window for me?) (Abrir -> Abriria)

Ex: Ele partiria amanhã se pudesse. (He would leave tomorrow if he could.) (Partir -> Partiria)

The Conditional Tense: Politeness & Hypotheticals (-ia):
The conditional tense is formed by adding -ia, -ias, -ia, -íamos, -íeis, -iam to the infinitive of most verbs. It's used for polite requests, what "would" happen in a hypothetical situation, or what "would" be true.

Ex: Eu viajaria se tivesse tempo. (I would travel if I had time.)

Ex: Você me ajudaria com isso? (Would you help me with this?)

Irregular Future: Fazer (To do -> I will do):
The verb 'Fazer' (to do/make) has an irregular future stem: 'far-'.
For 'você'/'ele'/'ela': far- + -á

Ex: Você fará o jantar hoje? (Will you make dinner today?)

Common Mistakes

✗ Você gostaria fazer um sanduíche?
✓ Você gostaria *de* fazer um sanduíche?
Why: 'Gostaria' when followed by an infinitive requires the preposition 'de'.
✗ Ele vai casar ela no sábado.
✓ Ele vai *se* casar no sábado. / Ele vai casar *com* ela no sábado.
Why: 'Casar-se' means 'to get married'. If you're marrying someone else, it's 'casar com alguém'. The reflexive 'se' is essential for 'to get married'.
✗ Eu faria o almoço, mas não tenho tempo. (Attempting to use future 'fazer' in conditional)
✓ Eu *faria* o almoço, mas não tenho tempo. (This is correct for conditional 'fazer' – the stem is 'far-' for both future and conditional, but the mistake here is confusing the use or conjugation of the stem. Let's rephrase for clarity regarding irregular stems).
✗ Ele dizirá a verdade. (Using regular ending for irregular stem)
✓ Ele *dirá* a verdade.
Why: The future stem for 'dizer' is 'dir-', not 'diz-'.
✗ Você pode me emprestar seu carro? (Asking impolitely)
✓ Você *poderia* me emprestar seu carro?
Why: 'Poderia' (conditional) is much more polite than 'pode' (present) for a request.
✗ Eu faço se tivesse dinheiro. (Using present for hypothetical)
✓ Eu *faria* se tivesse dinheiro.
Why: For hypothetical situations with 'se' (if), the main clause often uses the conditional tense.

Real Conversations

A

A

Olá! Você gostaria de ir ao cinema comigo no sábado?
B

B

Ah, obrigada! Eu adoraria, mas infelizmente não poderei. Tenho um compromisso.
A

A

Que pena! Talvez você queira ir no domingo?

English:

A

A

Hello! Would you like to go to the cinema with me on Saturday?
B

B

Oh, thank you! I'd love to, but unfortunately, I won't be able to. I have an engagement.
A

A

What a pity! Maybe you will want to go on Sunday?
A

A

Com licença, você poderia me dizer onde fica a estação de trem?
B

B

Claro! Você seguirá reto por esta rua e virará na terceira à direita.
A

A

Muito obrigada! Você me salvaria muito tempo.

English:

A

A

Excuse me, could you tell me where the train station is?
B

B

Of course! You will go straight down this street and turn on the third right.
A

A

Thank you very much! You would save me a lot of time.
A

A

Meu amigo vai se casar no Brasil no próximo ano. Você acha que eu faria bem em ir?
B

B

Com certeza! Eu iria se fosse você. Será uma ótima experiência!
A

A

É, você tem razão. Eu direi a ele que irei.

English:

A

A

My friend is getting married in Brazil next year. Do you think I would do well to go?
B

B

Absolutely! I would go if I were you. It will be a great experience!
A

A

Yeah, you're right. I will tell him I'll go.

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the difference between the simple future (e.g., 'farei') and 'ir + infinitive' (e.g., 'vou fazer') for expressing future actions?

The 'ir + infinitive' construction (e.g., "Eu vou fazer") is very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese for general future intentions, often implying a more immediate or certain future. The simple future tense (e.g., "Eu farei") is generally perceived as more formal or literary, though still used, especially for more distant plans, predictions, or in written contexts. At B1, it's good to recognize both.

Q

When should I use 'Você poderia' instead of 'Você pode' for requests?

Always use 'Você poderia' for polite requests. 'Você pode' (Can you?) is more direct and can sometimes sound abrupt, especially with strangers or in formal situations. 'Você poderia' (Could you?) softens the request significantly, showing more respect and consideration.

Q

Are there other common irregular verbs in the future and conditional tenses besides 'Poder', 'Dizer', 'Querer', and 'Fazer'?

Yes, there are a few others you'll encounter. Key ones include 'Ter' (to have) which becomes 'ter-' (future: terei, terá; conditional: teria), 'Vir' (to come) which becomes 'vir-' (future: virei, virá; conditional: viria), and 'Haver' (to have/exist) which becomes 'haver-' (future: haverei, haverá; conditional: haveria). The stems for future and conditional are often the same for irregular verbs.

Q

Can I use the conditional for making suggestions to others, not just polite requests for myself?

Absolutely! The conditional is perfect for making gentle suggestions or recommendations. For example, "Você poderia tentar ligar para ele" (You could try calling him) or "Nós deveríamos estudar mais" (We should study more – 'dever' in conditional often implies 'should').

Cultural Context

In Brazilian Portuguese culture, politeness and indirect communication are highly valued, particularly in initial interactions or with those of higher status. This makes the conditional tense, especially verbs like 'Gostaria' (I would like) and 'Poderia' (Could you/I), indispensable. Direct requests using the present tense, such as "Você pode me ajudar?" (Can you help me?), while grammatically correct, might be perceived as less refined than "Você poderia me ajudar?" (Could you help me?). Using these softer forms demonstrates respect and good manners, which is crucial for building rapport.
The discussion of future plans, whether personal or professional, also benefits from the nuances of the future tense. Expressing intentions clearly but also with a sense of possibility or hypothetical outcomes allows for a more natural flow of conversation. Even the verb 'casar-se' (to get married) carries significant cultural weight; marriage and family are central to many Brazilians' lives, and discussing such events correctly using the reflexive form shows an understanding of this importance. Mastering these forms allows you to integrate more smoothly into social settings and navigate cultural expectations with grace.

Key Examples (8)

1

Eu gostaria de um café, por favor.

I would like a coffee, please.

Polite Requests & Suggestions (Gostaria, Poderia)
2

Você poderia me enviar o arquivo por e-mail?

Could you send me the file by email?

Polite Requests & Suggestions (Gostaria, Poderia)
3

Eu me caso com você em qualquer lugar.

I’ll marry you anywhere.

Getting Married in Portuguese (Casar-se)
4

Eles se casam e postam tudo no Instagram.

They get married and post everything on Instagram.

Getting Married in Portuguese (Casar-se)
5

Eu comeria dez brigadeiros agora se pudesse.

I would eat ten brigadeiros right now if I could.

Portuguese Conditional: Regular -er Verbs (I would eat...)
6

Você beberia um café comigo amanhã?

Would you drink a coffee with me tomorrow?

Portuguese Conditional: Regular -er Verbs (I would eat...)
7

Depois da reunião, **eu poderei te ligar** para discutir o projeto.

After the meeting, I will be able to call you to discuss the project.

Future of 'Poder': Saying 'Will Be Able To'
8

A gente vai no cinema sexta, **você vai poder ir**?

We're going to the movies on Friday, are you going to be able to go?

Future of 'Poder': Saying 'Will Be Able To'

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The 'de' rule

Always remember 'Gostaria de'. It is a common mistake to forget the 'de' before an infinitive verb.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Requests & Suggestions (Gostaria, Poderia)
💡

Pronoun placement

In Brazil, put the pronoun before the verb.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Getting Married in Portuguese (Casar-se)
💡

Keep the Infinitive

Don't remove the -er ending! Just add -ia to the whole word.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Conditional: Regular -er Verbs (I would eat...)
💡

The 'Vai' Rule

In Brazil, 'vai poder' is your best friend. Don't worry about the synthetic future until you are reading formal texts.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future of 'Poder': Saying 'Will Be Able To'

Key Vocabulary (6)

Gostaria I would like Casar-se to get married Poderia could you Farei I will do Direi I will say Querer to want

Real-World Preview

heart

Planning the Wedding

Review Summary

  • Stem + -ia

Common Mistakes

Reflexive verbs require the pronoun to match the subject.

Wrong: Eu vai casar.
Correct: Eu vou me casar.

Sometimes learners forget the stem change in 'fazer'.

Wrong: Eu farei a tarefa amanhã.
Correct: Eu farei a tarefa amanhã.

Ensure you don't confuse conditional with future.

Wrong: Eu comeria.
Correct: Eu comeria.

Rules in This Chapter (9)

1

Polite Requests & Suggestions (Gostaria, Poderia)

B1
The Conditional tense transforms direct commands into polite requests, making your Portuguese sound more sophisticated and respectful.
Eu gostaria de um café, por favor.
10 examples
2

Getting Married in Portuguese (Casar-se)

B1
Always use a reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'com' when talking about someone getting married in Portuguese.
Eu me caso com você em qualquer lugar.
10 examples
3

Portuguese Conditional: Regular -er Verbs (I would eat...)

B1
Simply add the suffix -ia to any regular -er infinitive to create a polite or hypothetical 'would' statement.
Eu comeria dez brigadeiros agora se pudesse.
12 examples
4

Future of 'Poder': Saying 'Will Be Able To'

B1
Use the formal poderei/poderá for written and official contexts, but stick to vou poder in everyday conversation.
Depois da reunião, **eu poderei te ligar** para di...
10 examples
5

Saying 'Will Say' in Portuguese (Dizer Future)

B1
To use dizer in the future, drop the 'ze' and add regular endings to the stem 'dir-'.
Eu `direi` a verdade ao juiz.
10 examples
6

Future Intentions: 'Will Want' (Querer no Futuro)

B1
To say you 'will want' something formally, add future endings directly to the full verb querer.
No futuro, eu `quererei` um emprego remoto para vi...
10 examples
7

Portuguese Conditional: Would (-ir verbs)

B1
The Portuguese Conditional for -ir verbs is simply the infinitive plus the standard -ia endings.
Eu abriria a porta se tivesse a chave.
10 examples
8

The Conditional Tense: Politeness & Hypotheticals (-ia)

B1
Add -ia to the infinitive to express what would happen or to ask politely.
Eu viajaria o mundo todo se tivesse dinheiro.
12 examples
9

Irregular Future: Fazer (To do -> I will do)

B1
The verb fazer is irregular in the future tense, changing its stem to far- before adding standard endings (farei, farás, fará).
Eu farei o jantar hoje à noite para celebrar.
10 examples

Next Steps

You have mastered the B1 level! Keep practicing these forms to sound like a native speaker.

Watch a Brazilian soap opera scene

Continue to: Talking About Recent Habits

Quick Practice (10)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele fará o bolo.
Correct stem and ending.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Irregular Future: Fazer (To do -> I will do)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu gostaria de um café, por favor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Correct
The sentence is already correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Conditional Tense: Politeness & Hypotheticals (-ia)

Select the formal version.

Which is more formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Farei isso.
Synthetic future is more formal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Irregular Future: Fazer (To do -> I will do)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se eu tivesse tempo, eu iria.
Conditional cannot follow 'se'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Conditional Tense: Politeness & Hypotheticals (-ia)

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ (querer) viajar amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: quererei
Future tense for 'eu'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future Intentions: 'Will Want' (Querer no Futuro)

Choose the correct form.

Eles ___ poder chegar cedo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vão
Eles requires 'vão'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Future of 'Poder': Saying 'Will Be Able To'

Choose the most polite sentence.

Which is the most polite?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Gostaria de água.
Conditional is most polite.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Requests & Suggestions (Gostaria, Poderia)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu caso.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me caso
Needs reflexive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Getting Married in Portuguese (Casar-se)

Choose the correct form for 'Nós'.

Nós ___ o bolo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dividiríamos
Nós ending is -íamos.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Conditional: Would (-ir verbs)

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ caso.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
Eu requires 'me'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Getting Married in Portuguese (Casar-se)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, 'Queria' is very common in Brazil for polite requests, though 'Gostaria' is more formal.
No, the future is for things that will happen; the conditional is for things that would happen.
It makes the verb reflexive, meaning the action happens to you.
No, but it means 'to perform a wedding'.
No! Keep the full infinitive and add the suffix.
Yes, the endings are identical for -er and -ir verbs.
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