Spanish 1000
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B115 min read

Condicional simple

Would, could, polite requests — hablaría, me gustaría

In this guide7 sections
  1. What the conditional expresses
  2. Formation — full endings table
  3. Irregular stems — examples
  4. Polite phrases — shops, restaurants, requests
  5. Hypothetical si clauses — introduction
  6. Practice 1 — 6 questions
  7. Practice 2 — 6 questions

What the conditional expresses

The condicional simple (also pospretérito or futuro en el pasado ) expresses hypothetical actions, politeness , soft opinions , and reported future-from-the-past . English “ would / could ” often maps here — but not always.

Formation: infinitive + -ía endings (all verb types share the same endings).

Formation — full endings table

PersonEndinghablarcomervivir
yo-íahablaríacomeríaviviría
tú-íashablaríascomeríasvivirías
él / ella / usted-íahablaríacomeríaviviría
nosotros / as-íamoshablaríamoscomeríamosviviríamos
vosotros / as-íaishablaríaiscomeríaisviviríais
ellos / ellas / ustedes-íanhablaríancomeríanvivirían

Irregular stems — examples

Infinitiveyo conditionalInfinitiveyo conditional
tenertendríapoderpodría
decirdiríahacerharía
ponerpondríasalirsaldría
quererquerríasabersabría
venirvendríavalervaldría
  • Tendría que pensarlo.I would have to think about it.
  • ¿Podrías repetir, por favor?Could you repeat that, please?
  • Diría que sí, pero no estoy seguro.I would say yes, but I am not sure.
  • Vendríais con nosotros, ¿no?You all would come with us, wouldn’t you? (Spain)
  • Haría lo mismo en tu lugar.I would do the same in your place.
  • Querría hablar con el responsable.I would like to speak with the person in charge. (formal)

Polite phrases — shops, restaurants, requests

The conditional softens requests. In Spain it sounds natural in service situations — less blunt than bare present tense.

Direct (present)Polite (conditional)Context
¿Puedes ayudarme?¿**Podrías** ayudarme?Asking a friend
¿Puede ayudarme?¿**Podría** ayudarme?Formal / stranger
Quiero un café.**Me gustaría** un café.Ordering in a café
Queremos la cuenta.**Querríamos** la cuenta, por favor.Asking for the bill
¿Qué quieres?¿Qué **te gustaría**?Offering a choice
Dime tu nombre.¿**Me dirías** tu nombre?Softening a question
  • Me gustaría una mesa para dos, por favor.I would like a table for two, please.
  • ¿Podríais hablar más bajo?Could you all speak more quietly? (Spain)
  • ¿Te importaría abrir la ventana?Would you mind opening the window?
  • Preferiría quedarme en casa esta noche.I would prefer to stay home tonight.
  • ¿Podría ver el menú del día?Could I see the set menu?
  • Sería posible cambiar la reserva?Would it be possible to change the booking?

Hypothetical si clauses — introduction

The conditional appears in si (if) sentences for hypothetical or unlikely present/future situations. At B1, learn this pattern:

Si + imperfecto subjuntivo , condicional (or condicional alone in short answers).

If you have not studied subjunctive yet, recognise the meaning first:

Si clause (condition)Main clause (result)Meaning
Si **tuviera** dinero,**viajaría** más.If I had money, I would travel more. (hypothetical now)
Si **llueve**,**me quedo** en casa.If it rains, I stay home. (real condition — present)
Si **hubiera** sabido,**habría** venido.If I had known, I would have come. (past — advanced)
**Viajaríamos** mássi **tuviéramos** tiempo.We would travel more if we had time.
  • Viajaríamos más si tuviéramos tiempo.We would travel more if we had time.
  • ¿Qué harías si ganaras la lotería?What would you do if you won the lottery?
  • No lo compraría; es demasiado caro.I would not buy it; it is too expensive.
  • Dijo que vendría el lunes.He said he would come on Monday. (reported future-from-past)
  • Sería mejor esperar un poco.It would be better to wait a bit. (soft opinion)
  • ¿Viviríais en el extranjero?Would you all live abroad? (Spain)

Practice 1 — 6 questions

I would like a coffee →

Could you help me? (tú) →

We would travel more if we had time →

It would be better to wait →

He said he would come →

I would not buy it →

Practice 2 — 6 questions

Could I see the menu? (formal) →

What would you do? →

You all would come with us (Spain) →

I would have to think about it →

Would you mind opening the window? →

I would prefer to stay home →