The Conditional Tense
Frequently, the conditional is used to
express probability, possibility,
wonder or conjecture, and is usually
translated as would, could, must
have or probably.
The conditional has various uses that don't at
first glance seem closely related. But the
connection among them is that verbs in the
conditional don't refer to events that definitely
or necessarily have happened or are happening.
In other words, the conditional tense refers to
acts that can be seen as hypothetical in nature.
Unlike the past, future and present tenses, it
doesn't always refer to a particular period of
time. And while its name suggests that it is used
when there's a condition involved, in Spanish it
also has some close connections with the future
tense.
In fact, in Spanish, the conditional tense is
known as both el condicional and el futuro
hipotético (the hypothetical future).
Usage
There are several ways in which the conditional is used
in Spanish:
1. To indicate future time within the past. (Remember
that the conditional is a combination of future stem
with imperfect endings.)
Dije ayer que lo haríamos hoy.
Yesterday I said that we would [were going to] do it today.
The same idea could also be expressed with the imperfect of ir
plus a plus the infinitive:
Dije ayer que lo íbamos a hacer hoy.
Yesterday I said that we were going to do it today.
2. To indicate conjecture or probability in past time
(roughly an equivalent of probablemente plus
the imperfect).
¿Dónde estaría María anoche?
Where do you think Mary was last night?
Estaría en casa.
She was probably at home.
3. To indicate deference or softening of a
statement or request. Compare these three
examples:
Quiero cinco dólares.
I want $5.00. [forceful, present tense]
Querría cinco dólares.
I would like $5.00. [deferential, conditional]
Quisiera cinco dólares.
I would like $5.00. [almost apologetic, imperfect
subjunctive]
NOTE: The past subjunctive was used in the third example above to
indicate deference, politeness, or an almost apologetic tone. This
usage is found primarily with the verbs querer, deber, and poder:
4. To indicate something hypothetical (in
present or future time).
¡Yo viajaría a la luna mañana (si pudiera)!
I would go to the moon tomorrow (if I could)!
Since the conditional tense can usually be
understood as the Spanish verb form that is
used to translate English "would + verb" forms.
In most cases where we use "would" in English
we use the conditional in Spanish, and vice
versa. As long as you remember the rare
exceptions, you won't go wrong often by
thinking of the conditional as the "would" tense.
As a general rule, the English "would" is the equivalent of the
Spanish conditional. But there are exceptions.
To express speculation about the past: Just as the future tense can be
used to express speculation about the present, the conditional can be
used to express speculation or probability about the past. A variety of
translations can be used, depending on the context.
Después de trabajar, tendrían hambre.
After working, they probably were hungry. Another possible
translation is "After working, they must have been hungry." (A "would"
translation is also possible: "After working, they would have been
hungry.")
¿Dónde estuvo Jorge? Estaría en casa.
Where was George? He must have been at home. Another possible
translation is "Where was George? I wonder if he was at home." (A
"would" translation is also possible: "He would have been at home.")
Where the conditional poder is translated as "could": This is a
variation on the "would" rule, for poder, which when conjugated
can mean "can," can also be translated as "to be able." When
"could" means the same as "would be able," the conditional is
usually used.
Si tuviera dinero, podría ir al cine.
If I had money, I could go to the movies. (This is a use of the
conditional based on a condition. It also could be translated as
"If I had the money, I would be able to go to the movies.)
Podrían salir mañana.
They could leave tomorrow. (Here the condition is unstated. The
sentence also could be translated as "They would be able to
leave tomorrow.")
¿Podría tener un lápiz?
Could I have a pencil? (Or, "would I be able to have a pencil?")
Examples of when "would" isn't translated as the Spanish
conditional:
When it refers to a past repeated action: In such cases, the
imperfect is usually used. This use of "would" in English is usually
understood as "used to" or as the past tense. What's different in
this instance from cases where "would" is in the conditional
tense is that the activity isn't hypothetical.
Cuando era niño, íbamos al cine.
When I was a boy, we would go to the movies. (This is the same
as saying "we used to go to the movies" or "we went to the
movies." Going to the movies isn't a hypothetical action.)
Mi hijo jugaba con cuidado.
My son would play carefully. (This is the same as saying, "My son
used to play carefully.")