A Guide to Spanish Conditional Sentences: How to Express “Would” in Spanish


Introduction

Spanish conditional sentences allow you to express actions that would happen under certain conditions, similar to the English “would” + verb. Learning conditional sentences is essential for discussing hypothetical situations, giving advice, or making polite requests. This guide explains how to use Spanish conditional sentences step by step, with examples and practical tips.

1. What is the Spanish Conditional?

The conditional tense is used to describe actions that depend on a condition. For example:

  • I would travel → Yo viajaría

  • She would help → Ella ayudaría

It’s commonly used with if-clauses (si clauses) to talk about hypothetical situations:

  • Si tuviera tiempo, iría al cine. → If I had time, I would go to the movies.

2. How to Conjugate Regular Conditional Verbs

The conditional tense is formed by adding specific endings to the infinitive of the verb.

Endings:

  • -ía → yo / él / ella / usted

  • -ías → tú

  • -íamos → nosotros / nosotras

  • -íais → vosotros / vosotras

  • -ían → ellos / ellas / ustedes

Examples:

  • Hablar (to speak) → Yo hablaría – I would speak

  • Comer (to eat) → Tú comerías – You would eat

  • Vivir (to live) → Ellos vivirían – They would live

3. Irregular Conditional Verbs

Some verbs have irregular stems but use the same endings as regular verbs.

Infinitive Stem Example (yo)
Tener Tendr- Tendría
Salir Saldr- Saldría
Venir Vendr- Vendría
Decir Dir- Diría
Hacer Har- Haría

Tip: Memorizing these irregular stems makes forming conditional sentences much easier.

4. Common Uses of Spanish Conditional

  1. Hypothetical Situations

    • Si ganara la lotería, compraría una casa. → If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.

  2. Polite Requests or Suggestions

    • ¿Podrías ayudarme? → Could you help me?

    • Yo que tú, estudiaría más. → If I were you, I would study more.

  3. Expressing Probability or Possibility in the Past

    • Serían las ocho cuando llegaste. → It was probably eight o’clock when you arrived.

5. Tips for Mastering Conditional Sentences

  • Combine conditional verbs with if-clauses (si + imperfect subjunctive) for realistic hypotheticals.

  • Practice irregular stems alongside regular verbs.

  • Read examples in context to understand nuance.

  • Use flashcards to reinforce verb endings and sentence structures.

Conclusion

Spanish conditional sentences are essential for expressing hypotheticals, polite requests, and possibilities. By mastering regular and irregular forms, and practicing with real-life examples, you can confidently convey what would happen in various situations.