The Conditional tense
The Conditional tense expresses the feeling of future
uncertainty – what would happen if an earlier condition
occurred. It suggests probability or possibility.
He would play pro basketball if he were taller.
Would you call me if I gave you my number?
I would eat in this restaurant, but it’s too
expensive.
Note – when using the conditional tense, there will
usually be a “but” or “if”, or some other reason why or
why not the action would be done.
Regular verbs in the Conditional tense are similar to the
Future tense – you use the infinitive and add the
following endings for all verbs:
-ía
-íamos
-ías
-íais
-ía
-ían
Hablar
Hablaría
Hablarías
hablaría
hablaríamos
hablaríais
hablarían
Comer
comería
comerías
comería
comeríamos
comeríais
comerían
Vivir
viviría
vivirías
viviría
viviríamos
viviríais
vivirían
I would buy the car, but I don’t have enough money.
Yo compraría el carro, pero no tengo bastante dinero.
When would you go?
¿Cuándo iríamos?
No one would sleep there.
Nadie dormiría allí.
You would be there at ten, but you have to study.
Estarías allí a las diez, pero tienes que estudiar.
They wouldn’t sing this song.
Ellos no cantarían esta canción.
It can also be used to communicate probability
referring to a past time with verbs such as Decir,
Estar, Haber, Ser and Tener :
We were probably busy when you called.
Estaríamos ocupados cuando llamaste.
There were approximately fifty people there.
Habría unos cincuenta personas allí.
I wonder how much the suit Ricardo bought cost.
¿Cuánto costaría el traje que compró Ricardo?
Would you eat the tortillas?
¿Comerías las tortillas?
The children would not play with this toy (juguete).
Los niños no jugarían con este juguete.
Who would bring the dessert?
¿Quién traería el postre?
I would not read this novel.
Yo no leería esta novela.
There would be too many people there.
Habría desmasiada gente allí.