1. What is the Spanish conditional?
English
The Spanish conditional tense often corresponds to English would + verb: I would travel, she would buy, we would live. But the match is not perfect. Spanish also uses the conditional for polite requests, future-in-the-past and probability about the past.
Español
El condicional suele corresponder a would + verbo en inglés: I would travel = viajaría. Sin embargo, no existe una equivalencia automática. También se usa para peticiones corteses, futuro desde un punto pasado y conjeturas sobre el pasado.
Viajaría a España. — I would travel to Spain.
Me gustaría un café. — I would like a coffee.
Dijo que vendría. — He/She said that he/she would come.
Key idea: English would is a useful starting point, but Spanish condicional has its own system. You will see cases where English uses would but Spanish does not use the conditional — and the reverse.
2. How to form the condicional simple
For regular verbs, keep the entire infinitive and add the same endings to -ar, -er and -ir verbs.
infinitive+-ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían
| Person | Ending | hablar | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | -ía | hablaría | comería | viviría |
| tú | -ías | hablarías | comerías | vivirías |
| él / ella / usted | -ía | hablaría | comería | viviría |
| nosotros | -íamos | hablaríamos | comeríamos | viviríamos |
| vosotros | -íais | hablaríais | comeríais | viviríais |
| ellos / ustedes | -ían | hablarían | comerían | vivirían |
English clue
hablaría = would speak, comerías = you would eat, viviríamos = we would live.
Clave española
No se elimina la terminación del infinitivo. Por eso es comería, no comía, y viviría, no vivía.
3. Irregular stems: the same family as the future
The conditional uses the same irregular stems as the Spanish simple future. Learn one list and you unlock two tenses.
| Infinitive | Stem | Future | Conditional | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tener | tendr- | tendré | tendría | I will have / I would have |
| poder | podr- | podré | podría | I will be able / I could |
| querer | querr- | querré | querría | I will want / I would like |
| hacer | har- | haré | haría | I will do / I would do |
| decir | dir- | diré | diría | I will say / I would say |
| salir | saldr- | saldré | saldría | I will leave / I would leave |
| venir | vendr- | vendré | vendría | I will come / I would come |
| poner | pondr- | pondré | pondría | I will put / I would put |
| saber | sabr- | sabré | sabría | I will know / I would know |
| haber | habr- | habrá | habría | there will be / there would be |
| caber | cabr- | cabré | cabría | I will fit / I would fit |
| valer | valdr- | valdré | valdría | it will be worth / it would be worth |
Tendré tiempo mañana. — I will have time tomorrow.
Tendría más tiempo si trabajara menos. — I would have more time if I worked less.
4. The six core uses you should recognize
1. Hypothetical result
Viajaría más si tuviera tiempo.
I would travel more if I had time.
2. Advice
Yo que tú, esperaría.
I would wait if I were you.
3. Politeness
¿Podrías ayudarme?
Could you help me?
4. Soft desire
Me gustaría reservar una mesa.
I would like to book a table.
5. Future in the past
Dijo que vendría.
He said he would come.
6. Past probability
Serían las ocho.
It was probably around eight.
5. The essential pattern: si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional
Si + imperfecto de subjuntivo+condicional simple
Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo. — If I had money, I would travel around the world.
Si pudiera elegir, viviría cerca del mar. — If I could choose, I would live near the sea.
Si supieras la respuesta, ¿me la dirías? — If you knew the answer, would you tell me?
Do not put the conditional directly after hypothetical si.
❌ Si tendría dinero, viajaría.
✅ Si tuviera dinero, viajaría.
❌ Si tendría dinero, viajaría.
✅ Si tuviera dinero, viajaría.
English
English uses a past-looking form in the if-clause: If I had... and then would + verb in the result.
Español
El español usa el imperfecto de subjuntivo en la condición y el condicional en el resultado: si tuviera... viajaría.
6. English conditionals vs Spanish conditionals
The English labels zero, first, second and third conditional are useful for comparison, but Spanish does not simply copy English verb forms.
| Type | English pattern | Spanish pattern | Pair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | if + present → present | si + presente → presente | If it rains, I stay home. Si llueve, me quedo en casa. |
| First | if + present → will + base | si + presente → futuro | If I have time, I will call you. Si tengo tiempo, te llamaré. |
| Second | if + past → would + base | si + imperfecto de subjuntivo → condicional | If I had time, I would call you. Si tuviera tiempo, te llamaría. |
| Third | if + past perfect → would have + participle | si + pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo → condicional compuesto | If I had known, I would have called. Si lo hubiera sabido, habría llamado. |
Important: Zero and first conditional sentences normally do not use the Spanish conditional tense. The word conditional in the English teaching label describes a sentence type, not automatically the tense condicional.
7. First conditional: a realistic future
Si + presente+futuro / presente / imperativo
Si mañana hace buen tiempo, iremos a la playa. — If the weather is good tomorrow, we will go to the beach.
Si tienes tiempo, llámame. — If you have time, call me.
Common transfer error:
❌ Si tendrás tiempo...
✅ Si tienes tiempo...
Like English after if, Spanish normally avoids the future tense after si in an ordinary real condition.
❌ Si tendrás tiempo...
✅ Si tienes tiempo...
Like English after if, Spanish normally avoids the future tense after si in an ordinary real condition.
8. Second conditional: imaginary or unlikely situations
English
If I were rich, I would buy a house.Español
Si fuera rico, compraría una casa.Si viviera en España, hablaría español todos los días. — If I lived in Spain, I would speak Spanish every day.
¿Qué harías si ganaras la lotería? — What would you do if you won the lottery?
English uses a simple-past form in the condition. Spanish uses the imperfect subjunctive: tuviera, fuera, pudiera, ganara.
9. Third conditional and the condicional compuesto
Formation of the conditional perfect
habría / habrías / habría / habríamos / habríais / habrían+past participle
Habría llamado. — I would have called.
Habríamos llegado antes. — We would have arrived earlier.
Past counterfactual
Si + hubiera/hubiese + participio+habría + participio
Si lo hubiera sabido, te habría llamado. — If I had known, I would have called you.
Si hubiéramos salido antes, no habríamos perdido el tren. — If we had left earlier, we would not have missed the train.
Spanish variation: You may also hear Si lo hubiera sabido, hubiera ido. Using the pluperfect subjunctive in both clauses is common in real Spanish, although habría ido is the clearest textbook match for English would have gone.
10. Mixed conditionals: past cause, present result
A past event can have a hypothetical result in the present.
Si hubiera estudiado más, ahora tendría un trabajo mejor. — If I had studied more, I would have a better job now.
Si no hubieras perdido el tren, ya estarías aquí. — If you had not missed the train, you would be here already.
La condición pertenece al pasado, pero la consecuencia pertenece al presente. Por eso se combinan pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo y condicional simple.
11. Advice: “If I were you…” / “Yo que tú…”
English
If I were you, I would... is one of the most common advice patterns.
Español
Yo que tú... is extremely natural in conversation. You can also say Si yo fuera tú... or En tu lugar....
Yo que tú, hablaría con ella. — If I were you, I would talk to her.
En tu lugar, esperaría unos días. — In your place, I would wait a few days.
¿Qué harías tú en mi lugar? — What would you do in my place?
12. Polite requests and softer language
The conditional often makes a request, wish or opinion sound less direct.
| Spanish | Natural English | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Me gustaría un café. | I would like a coffee. | polite desire |
| ¿Podrías ayudarme? | Could you help me? | polite request |
| ¿Podría pagar con tarjeta? | Could I pay by card? | permission/request |
| ¿Te importaría cerrar la puerta? | Would you mind closing the door? | very polite request |
| Querría hacer una reserva. | I would like to make a reservation. | formal/soft desire |
| Yo diría que sí. | I would say yes / I think so. | soft opinion |
Natural speech: Me gustaría... is often more idiomatic than translating English I want... with a very direct quiero... in service situations.
13. The biggest trap: English “would” ≠ always Spanish conditional
A. Habitual “would” in the past → usually imperfect
English
When I was a child, I would play outside every day.Español
Cuando era niño, jugaba fuera todos los días.❌ Cuando era niño, jugaría fuera todos los días.
That usually sounds hypothetical, not habitual.
That usually sounds hypothetical, not habitual.
B. “Would” after a past reporting verb → conditional
He said he would call. — Dijo que llamaría.
C. “Would like” → me gustaría / querría
I would like to speak to the manager. — Me gustaría hablar con el gerente.
14. Could, should, might: do not translate mechanically
| English form | Possible Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I could help. | Podría ayudar. | hypothetical possibility / soft offer |
| When I was young, I could run fast. | Cuando era joven, podía correr rápido. | past ability |
| I managed to do it. | Pude hacerlo. | completed ability/success |
| You should rest. | Deberías descansar. | advice |
| You should have called. | Deberías haber llamado. | past advice/regret |
| It might be a good idea. | Podría ser una buena idea. | tentative possibility |
El contexto decide si could corresponde a podía, pude o podría. La forma inglesa por sí sola no basta.
Master "Should" & Advice
The conditional form deberías is the most natural way to give advice. Learn all its nuances in our dedicated guide.
Learn DEBER
The conditional form deberías is the most natural way to give advice. Learn all its nuances in our dedicated guide.
15. Future in the past: will → would / futuro → condicional
Direct speech
Juan: “Iré mañana.”Juan: “I will go tomorrow.”
Reported speech
Juan dijo que iría al día siguiente.Juan said he would go the next day.
Pensaba que vendrías. — I thought you would come.
Me prometió que me llamaría. — He/She promised that he/she would call me.
Sabíamos que sería difícil. — We knew it would be difficult.
16. A Spanish-only surprise: guessing about the past
Spanish can use the conditional to make an approximate guess about a past situation. English usually translates this with probably, must have been, I suppose — not necessarily would.
Serían las ocho cuando llegó. — It was probably around eight when he/she arrived.
Tendría unos treinta años. — He/She was probably about thirty.
Estarían en casa. — They were probably at home.
Para hispanohablantes que aprenden inglés: no traduzcas automáticamente serían las ocho como it would be eight. En inglés natural suele ser it was probably around eight o it must have been around eight.
17. Future vs conditional: same stems, different viewpoint
| Future | Conditional | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| hablaré — I will speak | hablaría — I would speak | expected future vs hypothetical |
| podré — I will be able | podría — I could / would be able | future ability vs hypothetical/softened ability |
| haré — I will do | haría — I would do | future commitment vs hypothetical action |
| vendré — I will come | vendría — I would come | future fact/plan vs hypothetical/reported future |
18. Imperfect vs conditional: listen for the R
For -er and -ir verbs, the imperfect and conditional can sound similar.
| Verb | Imperfect | Conditional | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| comer | comía | comería | was eating / used to eat vs would eat |
| vivir | vivía | viviría | was living / used to live vs would live |
| beber | bebía | bebería | used to drink vs would drink |
Listening clue: the conditional preserves the infinitive r: comería, viviría. The imperfect does not: comía, vivía.
Cuando vivía en Madrid, caminaba al trabajo. — When I lived in Madrid, I used to walk to work.
Viviría en Madrid si encontrara un buen trabajo. — I would live in Madrid if I found a good job.
19. High-value patterns for real conversation
Me gustaría...
I would like...
¿Podría...?
Could I...? / Could you...? formal
¿Podrías...?
Could you...? informal
¿Te importaría...?
Would you mind...?
¿Le importaría...?
Would you mind...? formal
Yo que tú...
If I were you...
En tu lugar...
In your place...
¿Qué harías...?
What would you do...?
Si tuviera...
If I had...
Si pudiera...
If I could...
Yo diría que...
I would say / I think...
Preferiría...
I would prefer...
Me habría gustado...
I would have liked...
Deberías...
You should...
20. Mini dialogues: English and Spanish side by side
At a restaurant / En un restaurante
English
— What would you like?— I would like the paella, please.
— Anything to drink?
— Could you bring me some water?
Español
— ¿Qué desea?— Me gustaría la paella, por favor.
— ¿Algo para beber?
— ¿Podría traerme agua?
Asking for advice / Pedir consejo
English
— I don't know whether to change jobs.— If I were you, I would look for another option.
— What would you do in my place?
— I would talk to my boss first.
Español
— No sé si cambiar de trabajo.— Yo que tú, buscaría otra opción.
— ¿Qué harías tú en mi lugar?
— Hablaría primero con mi jefe.
Imagining / Imaginar
English
— What would you do if you won the lottery?— I would travel around the world.
— Would you buy a house?
— Yes, I would buy one near the sea.
Español
— ¿Qué harías si ganaras la lotería?— Viajaría por el mundo.
— ¿Comprarías una casa?
— Sí, compraría una cerca del mar.
21. Common mistakes and transfer errors
×
Si tendría tiempo, iría.
Use imperfect subjunctive after hypothetical si.
Use imperfect subjunctive after hypothetical si.
✓
Si tuviera tiempo, iría.
×
Cuando era niño, jugaría al fútbol todos los días.
Habitual English “would” normally becomes Spanish imperfect.
Habitual English “would” normally becomes Spanish imperfect.
✓
Cuando era niño, jugaba al fútbol todos los días.
×
Si tendré tiempo, te llamaré.
✓
Si tengo tiempo, te llamaré.
×
Comía = I would eat in every context.
✓
comía = was eating / used to eat; comería = would eat.
22. Translation traps for both directions
| Expression | Bad literal shortcut | Better match |
|---|---|---|
| Me gustaría... | It would please me... | I would like... |
| Serían las ocho. | It would be eight. | It was probably around eight. |
| I would play outside every day. | Jugaría fuera... | Jugaba fuera... |
| Could you help me? | ¿Podías ayudarme? | ¿Podrías ayudarme? |
| You should call her. | Debes llamarla. (stronger) | Deberías llamarla. (advice) |
| I would have liked to go. | Me gustaría ir. (present wish) | Me habría gustado ir. |
23. Quick self-check
Open each item after choosing your answer mentally.
1. If I had more time, I would study Spanish every day.
Si tuviera más tiempo, estudiaría español todos los días.
The condition uses imperfect subjunctive; the result uses conditional.
The condition uses imperfect subjunctive; the result uses conditional.
2. ¿_____ ayudarme, por favor? (poder, tú)
¿Podrías ayudarme, por favor? — Could you help me, please?
3. When I was a child, I would visit my grandparents every Sunday.
Cuando era niño/a, visitaba a mis abuelos todos los domingos.
Habitual past “would” → imperfect.
Habitual past “would” → imperfect.
4. If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home.
Si llueve mañana, nos quedaremos en casa.
Realistic future: si + present + future.
Realistic future: si + present + future.
5. He said he would arrive at ten.
Dijo que llegaría a las diez.
Future in the past.
Future in the past.
6. Si lo hubiera sabido, te _____ . (llamar)
habría llamado — If I had known, I would have called you.
7. “Serían las nueve.” What does it most naturally mean?
It was probably around nine. The Spanish conditional expresses a guess about past time.
8. Yo que tú, no _____ ese coche. (comprar)
compraría — If I were you, I wouldn't buy that car.
9. I would have liked to learn Spanish earlier.
Me habría gustado aprender español antes.
10. Si pudiera elegir, _____ cerca del mar. (vivir)
viviría — If I could choose, I would live near the sea.
11. You should rest more.
Deberías descansar más.
12. Could I pay by card?
¿Podría pagar con tarjeta?
24. One-page mental cheat sheet
| Meaning | Spanish structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| would do | infinitive + conditional ending | haría, comería, viviría |
| if I had..., I would... | si + imperfect subj. + conditional | Si tuviera..., haría... |
| if I had known..., I would have... | si + pluperfect subj. + conditional perfect | Si hubiera sabido..., habría... |
| would like | me gustaría / querría | Me gustaría reservar. |
| could you...? | ¿podrías...? | ¿Podrías repetirlo? |
| would you mind...? | ¿te importaría + infinitive? | ¿Te importaría esperar? |
| future from a past point | conditional | Dijo que vendría. |
| probably was / must have been | conditional of conjecture | Serían las ocho. |
| habitual “would” in the past | imperfect, not conditional | De niño, jugaba... |