Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to use the Spanish simple conditional tense to express wishes, polite suggestions, hypothetical situations, and courteous requests. This lesson guides B1 learners through key uses with practical examples like 'Me marcharía en un crucero por Europa' and '¿Podrías decirme si hay un safari en Oceanía?'. Understand how the conditional differs from English and discover useful phrases to communicate politely and effectively in Spanish.
  1. We use the condicional simple to express wishes and intentions.
  2. We also use it to make polite suggestions.
  3. Another use is the description of hypothetical situations.
  4. We also use it to express politeness.
UsoEjemplo
 Deseos o voluntadesMe marcharía en un crucero por Europa pero no tengo mucho tiempo. (I would go on a cruise around Europe but I don't have much time.)
Sugerencias Yo diría que te subas al globo si quieres tener una vista bonita. (I would say that you get on the balloon if you want to have a nice view.)
 Situaciones hipotéticas Iría en una caravana por América pero no soy tan aventurero. (I would go on a caravan through America but I am not that adventurous.)
 Cortesía¿Podrías decirme si hay un safari en Oceanía? (Could you tell me if there is a safari in Oceania?)

Exercise 1: Condicional simple

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

se iría, visitaríamos, deberíais, se subirían, nos subiríamos, me marcharía, se subiría, querría

1. Subirse:
Con muy buen tiempo, mi novia y yo ... en un globo para ver la puesta del sol.
(With very good weather, my girlfriend and I would get into a balloon to watch the sunset.)
2. Subirse:
Mi hermano ... a un globo para viajar por Europa pero no es tan aventurero.
(My brother would get on a balloon to travel around Europe, but he is not that adventurous.)
3. Subirse:
Ellos ... en un globo pero tienen miedo de las alturas.
(They would get into a balloon but they are afraid of heights.)
4. Irse:
Mi tía ... en un crucero por América pero tiene que trabajar mucho.
(My aunt would go on a cruise around America but she has to work a lot.)
5. Visitar:
Mis amigos y yo ... cada continente como verdaderos exploradores pero el problema es el dinero.
(My friends and I would visit every continent like true explorers, but the problem is money.)
6. Marcharse:
Yo ... de safari por África pero ahora no tengo la oportunidad de hacerlo.
(I would go on a safari in Africa but right now I don't have the opportunity to do so.)
7. Deber:
Con vuestras vacaciones más largas, ... iros en caravana por Europa.
(With your longer holidays, you should go on a caravan trip around Europe.)
8. Querer:
Yo ... saber si hay safaris en Oceanía.
(I would like to know if there are safaris in Oceania.)

Understanding the Simple Conditional in Spanish

The simple conditional tense in Spanish is essential for expressing a variety of situations related to wishes, suggestions, hypothetical scenarios, and polite requests. This lesson covers how to use the simple conditional effectively, providing examples to illustrate each use case.

Key Uses of the Simple Conditional

  • Wishes or desires: Express what you would do if circumstances allowed. For example, Me marcharía en un crucero por Europa pero no tengo mucho tiempo.
  • Making polite suggestions: Offer advice in a considerate way. For instance, Yo diría que te subas al globo si quieres tener una vista bonita.
  • Hypothetical situations: Describe events that are imagined or unreal. Example: Iría en una caravana por América pero no soy tan aventurero.
  • Politeness and requests: Ask questions or favors courteously, such as ¿Podrías decirme si hay un safari en Oceanía?

Important Highlights

This tense forms verbs by adding specific endings to the infinitive and is often equivalent to "would" + verb in English. It's flexible and vital for B1 level learners who want to express nuanced ideas beyond the simple present or past tenses.

Comparison with English

Unlike English, where "would" helps form conditional sentences, Spanish attaches endings directly to the verb infinitive. Also, Spanish uses the conditional mood for polite requests more naturally than English, which often relies on modal verbs like "could" or "would." Useful phrases include Me gustaría (I would like), Podrías (Could you), and Sería mejor (It would be better), helping make your communication softer and more courteous.

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