le conditionnel présent

The conditional is used to refer to hypothetical events. It occurs in polite requests and most frequently with if clauses. In French, it is called le conditionnel and is most often translated by would in English.

There are three reasons to use the conditionnel:

1. to let someone else know that whatever you are saying is based on a condition being met (if...then)

2. to be polite

3. to express the future in the past 

formation

If you already know how to form the futur simple and the imparfait, the conditional is simple.

It uses the same stem as the futur simple (usually the infinitive). 

It uses the same endings as the imparfait. -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient

For example:

irregular stems

REMINDER: Verbs with irregular futur simple stems use the same irregular stems in the conditional. Here is a list of the most common irregular stems:

verbs with spelling changes  :  Reminder

Some verbs with spelling changes in the present form their futur simple/conditionnel stem regularly. These include verbs like préférer, espérer, manger, and commencer. Verbs with spelling changes like appeler, employer and acheter add -r to the present of the je form to create their future stem. 

uses

Use the conditionnel to 

1. Indicate that a condition needs to be met:  Usually you use a si-clause for this: the conditionnel in one part of the sentence and si + imparfait in the other part. This is exactly like English.

2. The conditional expresses potentiality. It is used to express a wish or a suggestion, to make a request, or to accept or extend invitations. It is less direct and more polite than the imperative. The verbs 'pouvoir', 'vouloir', and 'devoir' are often found in the conditional to diminish the strength of a command. In most cases, the conditional is translated as meaning would in English. However, je pourrais means 'I could', je devrais means 'I should' and je voudrais means 'I would like'. 

TIP:  Careful!  If you are speaking in the past, 'would' in English meaning 'used to' should be translated as an imparfait in French.

Here’s an example of using the conditionnel to be polite at a restaurant (you would always do this at a restaurant or store).

hypothetical action:  when there is a condition

The conditional is used when making statements which are contrary to present facts (=not real, theoretical). In order for the action expressed by the conditional to occur, something else must take place first. Note that the condition in the si  or if clause, is always stated in the imparfait. (See 'si' clauses for further examples.)

possibility or uncertainty

The conditional is also used to give information whose accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Journalists often use it to report events which are not known to be true. Often in English we would say “allegedly” or “seems” in this situation.