The Spanish Conditional Tense (Condicional), used for hypotheticals and polite requests, is a breeze to master for regular -er verbs. Just like -ar verbs, they follow a consistent pattern, making conjugation simple and predictable.
Conjugation Pattern: Easy as 1-2-3
- Start with the infinitive: Use the full infinitive of your -er verb (e.g., comer, beber, aprender).
- Add the conditional endings:
| Pronoun | Ending | Example (comer) |
|---|---|---|
| yo | -ía | comería |
| tú | -ías | comerías |
| él/ella/usted | -ía | comería |
| nosotros/as | -íamos | comeríamos |
| ellos/as/ustedes | -ían | comerían |
Example: ‘comer’ (to eat) in Action
- yo comería (I would eat)
- tú comerías (you would eat)
- él/ella/usted comería (he/she/you formal would eat)
More Examples to Boost Your Confidence
- beber (to drink): “Yo bebería un café si tuviera tiempo.” (I would drink a coffee if I had time.)
- aprender (to learn): “Ellos aprenderían español si vivieran en México.” (They would learn Spanish if they lived in Mexico.)
- vender (to sell): “Vosotros venderíais la casa si recibierais una buena oferta.” (You all would sell the house if you received a good offer.)
When to Use the Conditional Tense
The Conditional Tense is your friend for expressing:
- Hypothetical situations: “Si pudiera, viajaría por el mundo.” (If I could, I would travel the world.)
- Polite requests: “¿Podrías pasarme la sal, por favor?” (Could you pass me the salt, please?)
- Future actions from a past perspective: “Pensé que llegarían tarde.” (I thought they would arrive late.)
- Probability or possibility in the past: “Serían las tres cuando salió de casa.” (It must have been three o’clock when he left the house.)
Important Note: Irregular -ER Verbs
While most -er verbs are regular in the conditional tense, some common ones have irregular forms. The most notable examples are:
- tener (to have) → tendría
- hacer (to do/make) → haría
Key Takeaway
With this simple guide, you’ll be effortlessly conjugating regular -er verbs in the Spanish Conditional Tense. Practice using them in different contexts, and you’ll soon be expressing hypothetical scenarios and polite requests like a native speaker.
Synonyms:
- English: Regular -ER Conditional Mood, Would Tense, Future-in-the-Past Verbs
- Spanish: Verbos Regulares en -ER Pospretérito, Futuro Hipotético, Potencial Simple