Table of Contents
In English we say “I would do it, I would spend money, I would come there”. Italian can say all of that too, and this grammar topic is called the conditional mood. English uses the extra word “would”; Italian, as usual, changes the ending of the verb.
How to build it
If you studied the future tense lesson, you already did most of the work: the conditional uses exactly the same stem as the future. Take the infinitive, drop the final -E, change A to E for -ARE verbs, and add the conditional endings: -ei, -esti, -ebbe, -emmo, -este, -ebbero.
| Parlare | Prendere | Dormire | |
| io | parlerei | prenderei | dormirei |
| tu | parleresti | prenderesti | dormiresti |
| lui / lei | parlerebbe | prenderebbe | dormirebbe |
| noi | parleremmo | prenderemmo | dormiremmo |
| voi | parlereste | prendereste | dormireste |
| loro | parlerebbero | prenderebbero | dormirebbero |
Two details to keep straight:
1. -ARE verbs change A to E: mangerei (I would eat), viaggerebbe (he would travel), chiameresti (you would call). Saying “mangiarei” is a classic beginner mistake.
2. NOI has a double M: parleremmo (we would speak). With one M, parleremo means “we will speak” (future). One letter, different tense.
Irregular stems
The same short stems as in the future tense:
| essere | sarei – I would be |
| avere | avrei – I would have |
| andare | andrei – I would go |
| fare | farei – I would do |
| venire | verrei – I would come |
| volere | vorrei – I would like |
| potere | potrei – I could |
| dovere | dovrei – I should |
| vedere | vedrei – I would see |
| bere | berrei – I would drink |
When to use it
1. Polite requests. This is the number one use. “Voglio un caffè” sounds rude; “Vorrei un caffè” is how people actually order:
Vorrei un cappuccino, per favore – I would like a cappuccino, please
Potresti aiutarmi? – Could you help me?
Mi daresti il tuo numero? – Would you give me your number?
2. Advice. DOVERE in the conditional means “should”:
Dovresti dormire di più – You should sleep more
Non dovremmo spendere tanto – We shouldn’t spend so much
3. Wishes and hypothetical situations:
Mangerei una pizza intera! – I could eat a whole pizza!
Al posto tuo, non lo farei – In your place, I wouldn’t do it
Examples
Prenderei questo, grazie – I would take this one, thanks
Quando verrebbero a casa? – When would they come home?
Andremmo con te, ma non abbiamo tempo – We would go with you, but we don’t have time
Come useresti questi soldi? – How would you use this money?
Quando mi chiameresti? – When would you call me?
Studierei in un’università italiana, ma è troppo caro – I would study at an Italian university, but it’s too expensive
La nostra gatta non viaggerebbe mai con noi – Our cat would never travel with us
Non metterei mai questa camicia – I would never wear this shirt
Le dispiacerebbe aprire la finestra? – Would you mind opening the window? (formal)
Vocabulary
| spendere – to spend
usare – to use mettere – to put on, to wear dispiacere – to mind, to be sorry intero / intera – whole |
camicia – shirt
cucchiaio – spoon al posto tuo – in your place di più – more tanto – so much |
Exercises
Put the verb into the conditional
- Io ______________ un bicchiere d’acqua (VOLERE) – I would like a glass of water
- Tu che cosa ______________? (FARE) – What would you do?
- Noi ______________ al mare ogni giorno (ANDARE) – We would go to the seaside every day
- Lei ______________ ripetere, per favore? (POTERE) – Could you repeat, please? (formal)
- Voi ______________ studiare di più (DOVERE) – You should study more
- Loro ______________ volentieri, ma lavorano (VENIRE) – They would gladly come, but they work
- Io non ______________ mai quella macchina (COMPRARE) – I would never buy that car
- Marco ______________ tutta la torta! (MANGIARE) – Marco would eat the whole cake!
- Con più soldi, noi ______________ una casa più grande (AVERE) – With more money, we would have a bigger house
- Tu mi ______________ in una situazione così? (AIUTARE) – Would you help me in a situation like this?
Answers:
1: vorrei; 2: faresti; 3: andremmo; 4: potrebbe; 5: dovreste; 6: verrebbero; 7: comprerei; 8: mangerebbe; 9: avremmo; 10: aiuteresti