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• The conditional is used to express what would, could or should happen.

• The verb vouloir (to want to) is often used in the conditional to say je voudrais (I would like), tu voudrais (you would like) and il/elle voudrait (he/she would like).

• The conditional with vouloir is often used with an infinitive verb to say what someone 'would like to (do)'.

• Higher Tier only - The conditional is formed by adding the imperfect tense ending to the infinitive form of regular -er verbs, such as je mangerais (I would eat).

• Higher Tier only - The four common irregular verbs avoir (to have), ê�ٰ��� (to be), aller (to go) and faire (to do/make) all have irregular stems in the conditional, but the same endings.

Watch this video to learn more about using the conditional in French.

Foundation Tier students should learn the conditional forms of vouloir for je, tu and il/elle/on.

Higher Tier students should also learn all forms for regular -er verbs and the je, tu and il/elle/on forms for the irregular verbs aller, avoir, ê�ٰ��� and faire.

The conditional expresses what would, could or should happen. It is used to say what would happen if certain conditions were fulfilled.

• The most common form of the conditional uses the verb vouloir (to want to):

For example:

Je voudrais un sandwich au fromage, s’il vous plait. – I would like a cheese sandwich, please.

Tu voudrais du thé ? – Would you like some tea?

• The conditional is often used for politeness when making requests.

Saying je voudrais un café (I would like a coffee) is more polite than saying je veux un café (I want a coffee).

For example:

Elle voudrait une pomme. – She would like an apple.

• The conditional with vouloir is often used with an infinitive verb to say what someone would like to do.

For example:

Je voudrais aller en Italie – I would like to go to Italy.

Il voudrait gagner beaucoup d’argent. – He would like to earn a lot of money.

Practise what you've learned about the conditional in French with this quiz.

The conditional can be used with a variety of different verbs.

For example:

Je regarderais la télévision toute la journée. – I would watch TV all day.

Ce serait super ! – It would be great!

The conditional is formed by adding the imperfect tense ending to the infinitive for regular -er verbs.

The four common irregular verbs avoir (to have), ê�ٰ��� (to be), aller (to go) and faire (to do/make) all have irregular stems in the conditional, but the same endings as for regular verbs.

At Higher Tier, these should be learned for the je, tu and il/elle/on forms.

The conditional is often used in sentences beginning with si (if) and the imperfect to say what you would do if the circumstances were different.

For example:

Si c’était plus facile, je le ferais tous les jours. – If it was easier, I would do it every day.

S’il avait plus d’argent, il irait en France. – If he had more money, he would go to France.

Practise what you've learned about the conditional with this Higher Tier quiz.

Now you’ve learned about the conditional in French, why not explore Future phrases in French?