Formation: Future Stem + Imparfait Endings

The conditional uses the same stems as the future simple (usually the full infinitive for regular verbs) plus the endings of the imparfait: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

Pronoun	parler (stem: parler-)	finir (stem: finir-)	attendre (stem: attendr-)
je	parlerais	finirais	attendrais
tu	parlerais	finirais	attendrais
il/elle	parlerait	finirait	attendrait
nous	parlerions	finirions	attendrions
vous	parleriez	finiriez	attendriez
ils/elles	parleraient	finiraient	attendraient

Note on -re verbs: drop the final -e before adding endings: attendre → attendr- → j'attendrais.

Irregular Stems — Same as Future

The irregular conditional stems are identical to the irregular future stems. These must be memorised:

Infinitive	Cond./Future stem	Conditional (il form)
être	ser-	il serait
avoir	aur-	il aurait
aller	ir-	il irait
faire	fer-	il ferait
pouvoir	pourr-	il pourrait
vouloir	voudr-	il voudrait
venir	viendr-	il viendrait
savoir	saur-	il saurait
devoir	devr-	il devrait

Use 1: Polite Requests and Suggestions

The conditional softens requests, making them more polite. It is essential for formal and social contexts:

Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît. (I would like a coffee.) — much more polite than: Je veux un café.
Pourriez-vous répéter? (Could you repeat that?) — polite form of pouvoir
Tu devrais parler à ton professeur. (You should talk to your teacher.) — devoir conditional = should
On pourrait aller au cinéma ce soir. (We could go to the cinema tonight.) — suggestion
Auriez-vous l'heure? (Would you have the time?) — formal request

Use 2: Si + Imparfait + Conditionnel

For hypothetical situations in the present or future (things that are unlikely or imaginary), use: si + imparfait in the condition, conditionnel in the result.

Si clause (imparfait)	Result clause (conditionnel)
Si j'avais de l'argent,	j'achèterais une voiture.
(If I had money,)	(I would buy a car.)
Si elle était là,	elle t'aiderait.
(If she were here,)	(she would help you.)
Si vous vouliez,	vous pourriez partir plus tôt.
(If you wanted to,)	(you could leave earlier.)

Rule: Never put the conditional in the si clause. Si is always followed by imparfait (for hypothetical), never by conditional.

Use 3: Unconfirmed Information (Journalistic Conditional)

In French journalism and formal speech, the conditional is used to report unverified information — translating as 'reportedly' or 'allegedly':

Le président serait en visite à Paris. (The president is reportedly visiting Paris.)
L'accident aurait fait trois blessés. (The accident reportedly left three injured.)
Ce médicament pourrait guérir la maladie. (This drug could allegedly cure the disease.)

This use signals that the speaker is not personally vouching for the truth of the statement — it is attributed information.

Common Mistakes

Si j'aurais de l'argent…

→

Si j'avais de l'argent…

Never use the conditional after si in a hypothetical clause. Si + imparfait (not conditional).

je voudrais → je voudrait

→

je voudrais

The ending for je is -ais (not -ait). Je voudrais (I would like). Il voudrait (he would like).

attendrais (wrong stem: attenderais)

→

j'attendrais

For -re verbs, drop the final -e: attendre → attendr-. Add -ais: j'attendrais (not attenderais).

devrais = I must (present)

→

devrais = I should (conditional)

Je dois = I must (present). Je devrais = I should (conditional). They are different tenses with different meanings.

Summary

Stem

future stem (infin. for regular)

parler- / finir- / attendr-

Endings

-ais/-ais/-ait/-ions/-iez/-aient

je parlerais, il parlerait

être → serait

irregular stem: ser-

Il serait content.

avoir → aurait

irregular stem: aur-

Elle aurait raison.

aller → irait

irregular stem: ir-

On irait au cinéma.

Politeness

je voudrais / tu devrais

Je voudrais un café.

Si + hypothetical

si + imparfait + conditionnel

Si j'avais le temps, j'irais.

Journalistic

reportedly / allegedly

Il serait à Paris.

Conditionnel présent — The Conditional