How to use the conditional tense in Spanish (B1)

Do you know how to use the conditional tense in Spanish? Today this is what we are going to do. In a previous post, we saw how to form the simple conditional. Now it is time to learn how to use it.

How to use the simple conditional tense

1. The conditional in Spanish is used to express politeness.

¿Podría traerme un vaso de agua? (Could you bring me a glass of water?)

¿Le importaría dejarme pasar? (Would you mind to let me pass?)

2. To express wishes about the present or the future.

Me gustaría ser rico. (I would like to be rich.)

Me gustaría ir de vacaciones pronto (I would like to go on holidays soon.)

3. It is also used in a question to indicate speculation about a past situation.

¿Qué hora sería cuando llamó? (I wonder what time it was when he phoned.)

¿Dónde estarían mis amigos? No los vi. (I wonder where my friends were? I didn’t see them.)

4. The conditional is used to indicate the probability of a past situation.

Serían las dos y media cuando llegamos (It must have been about 2:30 when we arrived.)

Mario sabría la verdad. (Mario probably knew the truth)

5. To give advices and recomendations (learn more about how to give pieces of advice).

Yo que tú hablaría con Ana (If I were you I would speak to Ana.)

Deberías aprender español (You should learn Spanish).

6. Finally, it is used in connection with “si” and the imperfect subjunctive to express conjecture.

¿Qué haría usted si fuera el jefe? (What would you do if you were the boss?)

Si tuviera vacaciones, iría a Chile (If I had time off I would go to Chile.)

Practice uses of the conditional sentence with exercises

Now practice everything you have learned with our quizzes below and doesn’t forget to contact your tutor if you have any questions about how to use the conditional tense in Spanish. Don’t you have a Spanish personal tutor yet?

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