Conditionnel: if something could happen

If you form a sentence with ‘would’ in English, you will likely need a specific verb form in French: le conditionnel.

In French, the conditionnel is used to express a wish, doubt, a suggestion, or a possibility.

Time for some example sentences!

I would like to have more free time.
>> J’aimerais avoir plus de temps libre.

I wonder if this is the right decision.
>> Je me demanderais si c’est la bonne décision à prendre.

She could ask her colleague for help.
>> Elle pourrait demander de l’aide à son collègue.

She would invite you to her birthday.
>> Elle t’inviterait à son anniversaire.

I would have liked to visit the Louvre when I was in Paris.
>> J’aurais aimé visiter le Louvre quand j’étais à Paris.

Without Marie, he would always have arrived late.
>> Sans Marie, il serait altijd te laat komen.

As you can see, the conditionnel has a present tense (le conditionnel présent) and a past tense (le conditionnel passé).

How would you translate these sentences?

• I would like a cup of coffee, please.
• If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a Lamborghini.

You can read our previous explanation of le conditionnel here. You will also find the translations of the two sentences above there.