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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.
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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.) Dijeayerque lo haríamoshoy. 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: Dijeayerque lo íbamos a hacerhoy. Yesterday I said that we were going to do it today.
To indicate conjecture or probability in past time (roughly an equivalent of probablemente plus the imperfect). ¿DóndeestaríaMaríaanoche? Where do you think Mary was last night? Estaría en casa. She was probably at home.
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:
To indicate something hypothetical (in present or future time). ¡Yoviajaría a la lunamañana (sipudiera)! 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, tendríanhambre.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.") ¿Dóndeestuvo 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 tuvieradinero, podríair 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.) Podríansalirmañana.They could leave tomorrow. (Here the condition is unstated. The sentence also could be translated as "They would be able to leave tomorrow.") ¿Podríatener 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 hijojugaba con cuidado.My son would play carefully. (This is the same as saying, "My son used to play carefully.")
