11.3: The conditional
- Page ID
- 415689
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The Conditional Tense
The conditional tense depends on other actions to take place. The conditional explains actions that might happen if other actions happen. In English we use the word would before an infinitive. In Spanish, we use the whole infinitive and a conditional tense ending. Note how all verbs, -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs use the same endings in the conditional, just like they did in the future. For example
comprar
compraría compraremos
comprarías compraríais
compraría comprarían
beber
bebería beberíamos
beberías beberíais
bebería beberían
vivir
viviría viviríamos
vivirías viviríais
viviría vivirían
Just like in the future tense, there are no spelling changing or stem changing verbs. The eleven verbs that were irregular in the future are also irregular in the conditional. In order to remember them, we learned the question and answer “Does Harry Play Poker Saturdays? Then Visit Quiet, Caring, Henry Smith.”
The eleven verbs that are irregular in the future and conditional are:
verb instead of the infinitive, use
decir dir
hacer har
poder poder
poner pondr
saber sabr
tener tendr
venir vendr
querer querr
caber cabr
haber habr
salir saldr
Again, note how some of these irregular verbs use a part of the original infinitive, others lose the letter e in the -ER ending, and the rest substitute the letter d for e before the final R.
For example
decir
diría diríamos
dirías diríais
diría dirían
querer
querría querríamos
querrías querríais
querría querrían
poner
pondría pondríamos
pondrías pondríais
pondría pondrían
Remember, these eleven verbs are the only verbs that are not regular in the future and conditional tenses. So, we are ready to practice.
Práctica.
A. Conjugate the following verbs in the conditional tense.
hablar comprender recibir
hacer salir tener
B. Conjugate the verbs in the conditional in the indicated form.
1. Yo cantar la canción.
2. Nosotros (beber) ____________________________café antes del examen.
3. Tú (ir) _________________________a trabajar.
4. Usted (preparar) _____________________________ para la clase
5. Ustedes (cocinar) _________________________ los tacos.
6. Tú (dormir) __________________________ tarde este fin de semana.
7. Yo siempre (hacer) ______________________ toda mi tarea.
8. Ustedes (saber) _________________________todas las repuestas.
9. Nosotros (tener) __________________________calor en el verano.
10. La clase (decir) _________________________ las respuestas.
11.Mis padres (querer) _______________________ celebrar conmigo.
12.La profesora (tratar) _______________________ de explicar la gramática.
C. Translate the sentences into Spanish.
1. We would study a lot.
2. I would write the grammar.
3. She would read the book.
4. You (familiar, singular) would not use your phone.
5. You (formal, singular) would go home.
6. My friends would watch the program.
7. I would eat dinner after work.
8. You (formal, plural) would speak Spanish in class.
9. The dogs would run.
10. They would listen to the radio.
D. Think about our world. Write five things you would like to change. Write what youwould change if you could. You can start your sentences with SI PUDIERA which means if I could.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
E. La música. The song Si el norte fuera el sur by Ricardo Arjona is an important song from 1996 that examines social and political aspects. It asks us to imagine how the world would be if the north were the south and the south were the north. Listen to the song. Then, listen to it a second time and write the verbs that you hear in the conditional tense.
F. When do we use the conditional verb tense? How is conjugating it the same as conjugating in the future tense? How is it different? Do you think it is a verb tense you will use often? Why or why not?

