French Present and Past Conditional – Practice Cards

A set of practice flashcards covering the uses, formation, and examples of the French present and past conditional, including si-clauses and common exercises from the notes.

What is the present conditional used for in French?

To express supposition, hypothesis, possibility, or probability; it is also used for wishes and polite requests.

How is the present conditional formed for regular verbs?

Add the imperfect endings to the infinitive: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient (e.g., chercher → je chercherais).

How is the conditionnel passé formed?

With the auxiliary être or avoir in the present conditional plus the past participle of the main verb (e.g., j'aurais mangé); note that agreement with être applies.

What is the si-clause rule related to the present conditional?

Si + imperfect clause typically leads to the present conditional in the main clause.

Provide a present conditional sentence from the notes translated into English.

I would like to buy a few plants to brighten the garden.

Complete this sentence in the present conditional: 'If you trained more seriously, we __ in the lead.'

serions en tête (we would be in the lead).

Translate to English: 'Mais s'il pleuvait, on pourrait repeindre la cuisine.'

But if it rained, we could repaint the kitchen.

In Exercise 2, for the sentence 'Si le député avait respecté les électeurs, il __', which tense goes in the blank?

Present conditional (e.g., démissionnerait -> 'he would resign').

What does 'Je chercherais' mean in English?

I would search (I would be searching).

Conjugate the verb 'avoir' in the present conditional (all forms).

j’aurais, tu aurais, il/elle aurait, nous aurions, vous auriez, ils/elles auraient.

Conjugate the verb 'être' in the present conditional (all forms).

je serais, tu serais, il/elle serait, nous serions, vous seriez, ils/elles seraient.

What is a common use of the present conditional in polite requests?

To make polite requests, e.g., J’aimerais vous aider = I would like to help you.