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Conditionnel · je voudrais

Conditional present softens requests. The most common forms an A1 learner needs: je voudrais (I'd like), j'aimerais (I'd like), pourriez-vous (could you).

Examples

  • Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.I'd like a coffee, please.
  • Pourriez-vous m'aider ?Could you help me?

How it works

The conditional is the polite default for asking things in French. To a French ear "je veux" sounds like "gimme" — in shops, restaurants and favours, people expect "je voudrais".

You don't need every form of the verb at A1. Memorise three frames.

je voudrais — I would like (a softer je veux)

Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
I'd like a coffee, please.
Je voudrais voyager en France.
I'd like to travel in France.
Je voudrais te demander quelque chose.
I'd like to ask you something.

j'aimerais — I would like / I'd love (a wish)

J'aimerais apprendre le français.
I'd like to learn French.
J'aimerais vivre à Paris.
I'd love to live in Paris.

pourriez-vous — could you (formal or plural) pourrais-tu — could you (informal)

Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement ?
Could you speak more slowly?
Pourrais-tu m'aider ?
Could you help me?
Pourrais-tu fermer la porte ?
Could you close the door?

OTHER SOFTENERS:

je préféreraisI'd prefer
Je préférerais rester ici.
I'd rather stay here.
ce serait possible de… ?

Would it be possible to…?

ça te dérangerait de… ?

Would you mind…?

The conditional is built from the futur simple stem plus the imparfait endings (-ais / -ais / -ait / -ions / -iez / -aient). At A1 the frames above are enough; the full system arrives at B1.

Finish with s'il vous plaît (formal) or s'il te plaît (informal) for full politeness:

Je voudrais l'addition, s'il vous plaît.
I'd like the bill, please.

What you'll practise

  1. 1. je voudrais (I'd like)

    Politer than 'je veux'. Used for ordering or requesting.

    • Je voudrais un thé.I'd like a tea.

  2. 2. j'aimerais (I would like)

    Slightly more formal alternative to je voudrais — for desires.

    • J'aimerais voyager.I would like to travel.

  3. 3. pourriez-vous (could you)

    Polite request. With vous = formal/plural; pourrais-tu = informal.

    • Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement ?Could you speak more slowly?

Practise it until it sticks

Short drills built on these 3 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.

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