The conditional tense (el condicional) in Spanish is essential for expressing hypothetical situations, making polite requests, and discussing future possibilities from a past perspective. It’s equivalent to using “would,” “could,” or “should” in English.
This comprehensive guide will cover:
Full conjugation rules (regular & irregular verbs) When and how to use the conditional tense Real-life examples with English translations Common mistakes to avoid Comparison with the future tense Interactive quiz to test your knowledge
Let’s master the Spanish conditional tense step by step!
How to Conjugate the Conditional Tense in Spanish
Regular Verbs in the Conditional
All Spanish verbs (whether -AR, -ER, or -IR) follow the same conjugation pattern in the conditional tense. Simply take the infinitive and add these endings:
| Pronoun | Ending | Example: Hablar (to speak) |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | -ía | hablaría (I would speak) |
| Tú | -ías | hablarías (You would speak) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | -ía | hablaría (He/She/You would speak) |
| Nosotros | -íamos | hablaríamos (We would speak) |
| Vosotros | -íais | hablaríais (You all would speak) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | -ían | hablarían (They/You all would speak) |
More Examples with Regular Verbs
- Comer (to eat)
- Yo comería una hamburguesa. (I would eat a burger.)
- Nosotros comeríamos en ese restaurante. (We would eat at that restaurant.)
- Vivir (to live)
- Tú vivirías en Madrid. (You would live in Madrid.)
- Ellos vivirían cerca de la playa. (They would live near the beach.)
- Trabajar (to work)
- Él trabajaría desde casa. (He would work from home.)
- Vosotros trabajaríais menos. (You all would work less.)
Irregular Verbs in the Conditional
Some verbs have irregular stems but still use the same endings (-ía, -ías, -íamos, etc.). Here are the most important ones:
| Infinitive | Irregular Stem | Conditional Form (Yo) | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decir (to say) | dir- | diría | Yo diría la verdad. (I would tell the truth.) |
| Hacer (to do/make) | har- | haría | Ella haría el proyecto. (She would do the project.) |
| Poder (can) | podr- | podría | ¿Podrías ayudarme? (Could you help me?) |
| Tener (to have) | tendr- | tendría | Yo tendría más tiempo. (I would have more time.) |
| Saber (to know) | sabr- | sabría | Ellos sabrían la respuesta. (They would know the answer.) |
| Venir (to come) | vendr- | vendría | ¿Vendrías a la fiesta? (Would you come to the party?) |
| Querer (to want) | querr- | querría | Yo querría un café. (I would like a coffee.) |
More Examples with Irregular Verbs
- Poder (could/would be able to)
- Yo podría ir al cine. (I could go to the movies.)
- Nosotros podríamos ganar el partido. (We could win the game.)
- Tener (would have)
- Tú tendrías un coche mejor. (You would have a better car.)
- Ellos tendrían más dinero. (They would have more money.)
- Hacer (would do/make)
- Yo haría mi tarea. (I would do my homework.)
- ¿Qué harías tú? (What would you do?)
When to Use the Conditional Tense in Spanish
1. Hypothetical Situations (Would)
Used for imagined or unreal scenarios.
- Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (If I had money, I would travel the world.)
- Si fuera rico, compraría una casa grande. (If I were rich, I would buy a big house.)
2. Polite Requests (Could/Would)
More courteous than the imperative.
- ¿Podrías pasarme el agua? (Could you pass me the water?)
- Me gustaría reservar una mesa. (I would like to reserve a table.)
3. Future in the Past (Was Going to Happen)
When talking about the future from a past perspective.
- Dijo que llegaría tarde. (He said he would arrive late.)
- Pensé que no vendrías. (I thought you wouldn’t come.)
4. Advice & Suggestions (Should)
Often used with debería (should).
- Deberías estudiar más. (You should study more.)
- No deberías fumar. (You shouldn’t smoke.)
5. Wishes & Desires
Expressing something you’d like.
- Me encantaría visitar Japón. (I would love to visit Japan.)
- ¿Te gustaría bailar? (Would you like to dance?)
Conditional vs. Future Tense in Spanish: Key Differences
Many learners confuse the conditional (would) with the future tense (will). Here’s how they differ:
| Tense | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Future Tense | Viajaré a España. | I will travel to Spain. (Definite plan) |
| Conditional Tense | Viajaría a España. | I would travel to Spain. (Hypothetical) |
More Comparisons:
- Future: Compraré un coche. (I will buy a car.)
- Conditional: Compraría un coche si tuviera dinero. (I would buy a car if I had money.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using the conditional after “si” (if) in the same clause
- Incorrect: Si tendría dinero, viajaría.
- Correct: Si tuviera dinero, viajaría. (If I had money, I would travel.)
Confusing the conditional with the imperfect tense
- Incorrect: Cuando era niño, viviría en México.
- Correct: Cuando era niño, vivía en México. (When I was a child, I lived in Mexico.)
Here are 10 practical, everyday examples of the Spanish conditional tense with English translations, perfect for learners to see how it’s used in real-life situations:
Everyday Examples for The Conditional Tense in Spanish
1. Making Polite Requests
- ¿Podrías ayudarme con esto?
(Could you help me with this?) - Me gustaría pedir un café, por favor.
(I would like to order a coffee, please.)
2. Giving Advice
- Deberías llamar a tu madre más seguido.
(You should call your mom more often.) - No deberías comer tanto azúcar.
(You shouldn’t eat so much sugar.)
3. Hypothetical Scenarios
- Si tuviera tiempo, aprendería a tocar la guitarra.
(If I had time, I would learn to play the guitar.) - Si ganara la lotería, viajaría por el mundo.
(If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.)
4. Expressing Preferences
- Preferiría ir al cine que a un concierto.
(I would prefer to go to the movies than to a concert.) - ¿Te gustaría salir a cenar esta noche?
(Would you like to go out to dinner tonight?)
5. Future in the Past
- Dijo que llegaría a las 8, pero llegó tarde.
(He said he would arrive at 8, but he was late.) - Pensé que no vendrías a la fiesta.
(I thought you wouldn’t come to the party.)
6. Making Offers
- ¿Querrías que te lleve al aeropuerto?
(Would you like me to take you to the airport?) - Podríamos ayudarte con la mudanza.
(We could help you with the move.)
7. Expressing Wishes
- Me encantaría vivir en España algún día.
(I would love to live in Spain someday.) - ¿Te mudarías a otro país si pudieras?
(Would you move to another country if you could?)
8. Giving Opinions
- Yo diría que es una mala idea.
(I would say it’s a bad idea.) - ¿Qué harías tú en mi lugar?
(What would you do in my place?)
9. Shopping & Negotiating
- *¿Aceptarías 50porestelibro?∗∗∗(Wouldyouaccept50porestelibro?∗∗∗(Wouldyouaccept50 for this book?)
- Compraría este vestido si estuviera en oferta.
(I would buy this dress if it were on sale.)
10. Everyday Hypotheticals
- Si no lloviera, iríamos al parque.
(If it weren’t raining, we would go to the park.) - Si supieras la verdad, te sorprenderías.
(If you knew the truth, you’d be surprised.)
Practice Quiz: Practice With the Spanish Conditional Tense Quiz!
Spanish Conditional Tense Quiz
Basic Level
1. Yo _____ ir a la fiesta si tuviera tiempo. (I would go to the party if I had time.)
2. Nosotros _____ más temprano si el tren llegara a tiempo. (We would leave earlier if the train arrived on time.)
3. Tú _____ mejor si estudiaras más. (You would do better if you studied more.)
4. Ellos _____ a España si pudieran. (They would travel to Spain if they could.)
5. ¿Qué _____ tú en mi lugar? (What would you do in my place?)
6. Ella _____ feliz si la invitaras. (She would be happy if you invited her.)
7. Yo _____ un coche nuevo si tuviera dinero. (I would buy a new car if I had money.)
8. ¿_____ venir con nosotros al cine? (Would you like to come with us to the movies?)
9. Vosotros _____ mejor en un hotel. (You all would sleep better in a hotel.)
10. Ustedes _____ más si hicieran ejercicio. (You all would lose more if you exercised.)
