Like in English, the conditional tense is used to express what one 'would' do. Often dependent on a 'si clause' - usually in l'imparfait - the pronunciation of the conditional is almost the same as the future, so - like with many things in French - context is key.

Le Conditionnel | Conditional Tense

1. General Use

Le conditionnel can be used in the following circumstances:

1. By using the standard conditional tense

   M'aideriez-vous?
   Would you help me?
   Pourrais-je vous parler?
   Could I speak to you

2. By using the conditional with a 'si clause'

   J'apprendrais le français si j'avais du temps
   I would learn French if I had the time
   Si je gagnais á la loterie, j'achèterais une grande maison
   If I won the lottery, I would buy a large house

3. To express a future-in-the-past

   Elle a dit qu'elle partirait vers neuf heures
   She said she would leave around nine o'clock

2. Formation

To form l'imparfait, you just drop the -ons from the present tense 'nous form' of the verb and add the required imperfect ending:

3. Irregular Imperfect Verbs

Thankfully l'imparfait has only one irregular verb, our friend être.

4. Concept Check

This table provides you with a few running examples of l'imparfait: