Conditional tense in Spanish.How & when to use it.
What is the conditional tense in Spanish
The conditional tense (condicional simple) is used to talk about things that would happen under certain conditions. It's the Spanish way of expressing "would" in English.
When to use the conditional tense in Spanish
The conditional tense (condicional simple) helps you sound polite, express wishes, or talk about "what could happen." Here are the most common uses:
💬 Politeness
Use it to make your requests or offers softer and more respectful.
- ¿Podrías ayudarme? (Could you help me?)
- Me gustaría un café, por favor. (I’d like a coffee, please.)
💭 Hypothetical situations
Talk about something that would happen if the situation were different.
- Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo.
(If I had money, I would travel the world.)
🕰️ Future in the past
Say what someone was supposed to do from a past point of view.
- Dijo que llegaría a las nueve.
(He said he would arrive at nine.)
🌟 Desires & dreams
Share what you’d like to do or wish would happen.
- Me gustaría visitar España algún día.
(I’d like to visit Spain someday.)
💡 Suggestions
Give polite advice or make gentle recommendations.
- Deberías hablar con ella.
(You should talk to her.)
Tip: This tense is used a lot in both speaking and writing. If you want to sound natural and fluent, it’s one of the most useful tenses to practice!
How to form the conditional in Spanish
To form the conditional, simply add the correct endings to the infinitive form of the verb. Example: vivir → viviría
| Infinitive Verb | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían | Yo hablaría (I would speak) |
| comer | -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían | Tú comerías (You would eat) |
| vivir | -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían | Él/Ella viviría (He/She would live) |
The conditional tense is common in everyday conversation and writing. It helps you sound polite, express possibilities, and speak more naturally in real conversations.
