The conditionnel —Il y en a combien, un sur cent qui finit professionnel. Pourquoi ce serait lui? © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel The conditionnel is used to soften a request, to indicate that a statement might be contrary to reality, or to show that an action was going to happen at some point in the past. It is often translated into English as would… or could… © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel The conditionnel is formed with the same stems as the futur simple. The endings for the conditionnel are the same as those for the imparfait. The conditionnel of regular verbs parler réussir attendre je/j’ tu il/elle nous vous ils/elles parlerais parlerait parlerions parleriez parleraient réussirais réussirait réussirions réussiriez réussiraient attendrais attendrait attendrions attendriez attendraient © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel Any -er verbs with spelling changes in their futur simple stem have the same changes in the conditionnel. je me promènerai j’emploierai j’essaierai or j’essayerai j’appellerai je projetterai je me promènerais j’emploierais j’essaierais or j’essayerais j’appellerais je projetterais © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel Verbs that have an irregular stem in the futur simple have the same stem in the conditionnel. Nous irions au cinéma s’il y avait des films intéressants à voir. We would go to the cinema if there were interesting movies to see. Qu’est-ce que tu ferais, toi, dans les circonstances actuelles? What would you do under the present circumstances? © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

ATTENTION! The conditionnel Remember that the English would can be translated with the imparfait or the conditionnel. To express ongoing or habitual actions in the past in French, use the imparfait. Pépé parlait souvent de son enfance. Gramps would (used to) talk often about his childhood. but Pépé parlerait de son enfance s’il était là. Gramps would talk about his childhood if he were here. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

Use the conditionnel to describe hypothetical events. Vous pourriez venir à cinq heures. You could come at 5 o’clock. Un jour, j’aimerais visiter les Seychelles. One day, I’d like to visit the Seychelles. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel The hypothetical aspect of the conditionnel makes it useful in polite requests and propositions. The verbs most often used in phrases of this type are aimer, pouvoir, and vouloir. Nous aimerions vous poser des questions. We would like to ask you some questions. Est-ce que je pourrais parler à Bertrand? May I speak to Bertrand? Je voudrais porter un toast. I would like to make a toast. Pardon, monsieur, auriez-vous l’heure, s’il vous plaît? Pardon, sir, would you have the time, please? © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel Conditional forms of devoir followed by an infinitive tell what should or ought to happen. Conditional forms of pouvoir followed by an infinitive tell what could happen. Tu devrais sortir plus souvent avec nous. You should go out more often with us. On pourrait passer la matinée au parc. We could spend the morning at the park. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel Another use for the conditionnel is in a clause after au cas où (in case). Note that English uses the indicative for these phrases. Apportez de l’argent au cas où il y aurait encore des tickets à vendre. Bring some money in case there are still tickets for sale. Je mettrai des baskets au cas où on irait pied au vernissage. I’ll wear sneakers in case we go to the art opening on foot. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel In some cases, the conditionnel is used to express uncertainty about a fact. Selon le journal, il y aurait plus de 100 parcs d’attractions au Texas. According to the newspaper, there are more than 100 amusement parks in Texas. Le film dit que nous n’aurions plus le temps de sauver la planète. The movie is saying that we don’t have any more time to save the planet. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel The conditionnel is used sometimes in the context of the past to indicate what was to happen in the future. This usage is called the future in the past. Pépé a dit qu’il fêterait son 95e anniversaire dans un parc d’attractions. Gramps said he would celebrate his 95th birthday at an amusement park. Je pensais que maman mettrait mes affaires dans ma chambre, mais elle les a mises dehors. I thought Mom would put my things in my room, but she put them outside. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

M. LeFloch a dit qu’il allait bavarder avec un ami. The conditionnel ATTENTION! To indicate that an event was going to happen in the past, you can also use the verb aller in the imparfait plus an infinitive. M. LeFloch a dit qu’il allait bavarder avec un ami. Mr. LeFloch said he was going to chat with a friend. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

The conditionnel Form contrary-to-fact statements about what would happen if something else were to occur by using the imparfait and the conditionnel. Si j’étais toi, je mettrais des baskets pour aller me promener. If I were you, I would put on sneakers to take a walk. On pourrait arriver avant l’ouverture si Jean-Yves faisait la queue pour nous. We could arrive before the opening if Jean-Yves stood in line for us. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.