Point de départ The conditional expresses what you would do or what would happen under certain circumstances. The conditional of regular verbs is formed by using the infinitive form of the verb as the stem. To form the conditional of –er and –ir verbs, add the imparfait endings to the infinitive. Drop the –e from the infinitive of –re verbs before adding the endings to it. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-1 1

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Note the conditional form of most spelling change –er verbs: © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-3 3

For –er verbs with an è before the infinitive ending, form the conditional the same way as regular verbs. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-4 4

Some verbs use irregular stems in the conditional. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-5 5

The conditional forms of il y a, il faut, and il pleut are, respectively, il y aurait, il faudrait, and il pleuvrait. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-6 6

Use the conditional to make a polite request, soften a demand, or express what someone could or should do. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-7 7

Use the conditional, along with a past-tense verb, to express what someone said or thought would happen in the future at a past moment in time. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-8 8

The English would can also mean used to, in the sense of past habitual action. To express past habitual actions in French, use the imparfait. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-9 9

Essayez! Indiquez la forme correcte du conditionnel de ces verbes. 1. je (perdre, devoir, venir) __________________________ 2. tu (vouloir, aller, essayer) __________________________ 3. Michel (dire, prendre, savoir) __________________________ 4. nous (préférer, nettoyer, faire) __________________________ 5. vous (être, pouvoir, avoir) __________________________ 6. elles (dire, espérer, amener) __________________________ 7. je (boire, choisir, essuyer) __________________________ 8. il (tenir, se lever, envoyer) __________________________ perdrais, devrais, viendrais © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3B.2-10 10