El condicional simple se usa para expresar deseos, hipótesis o recomendaciones.

(The simple conditional is used to express wishes, hypotheses, or recommendations.)

What is the Spanish simple conditional?

The simple conditional (condicional simple) in Spanish usually translates as “would + verb” in English.

  • It talks about hypothetical situations now or in the future.
  • It often expresses wishes, polite suggestions or advice.
  • Formally, it is one tense, but you will see it in two main patterns:
    • Without “si”: Yo alquilaría un piso en el centro.
    • With “si”: Si tuviera dinero, alquilaría un piso en el centro.

How to form the simple conditional (regular verbs)

The good news: the ending is the same for -ar, -er, -ir verbs.

You always use: infinitive + ending.

Person Ending Example with alquilar Meaning
yo -ía alquilaría I would rent
tú -ías alquilarías you would rent
él / ella / usted -ía alquilaría he / she / you (formal) would rent
nosotros/as -íamos alquilaríamos we would rent
vosotros/as -íais alquilaríais you (pl.) would rent
ellos / ellas / ustedes -ían alquilarían they / you (pl. formal) would rent
  • Rule: infinitive (alquilar / comer / vivir) + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.
  • There is always an accent on the í in every form.

Check with two more verbs:

  • comer → comería, comerías, comería, comeríamos, comeríais, comerían
  • vivir → viviría, vivirías, viviría, viviríamos, viviríais, vivirían

Self-check: Can you say out loud the six forms of comprar (to buy) in the conditional?

When to use the simple conditional (without “si”)

Use the conditional without “si” mainly for three things:

  1. Wishes and personal plans (not sure, just ideas)
    • Me gustaría vivir cerca del trabajo. – I would like to live near work.
    • Alquilaría un piso en el centro. – I would rent a flat in the centre.
  2. Polite advice or recommendations
    • Yo alquilaría un piso más pequeño. – I would rent a smaller flat.
    • Con tu presupuesto, compraría fuera de la ciudad. – With your budget, I would buy outside the city.
  3. Hypotheses about what someone might do
    • Ellos vivirían de alquiler un año y después comprarían. – They would rent for a year and then buy.
    • Quizá firmaríamos un contrato más corto. – Maybe we would sign a shorter contract.

Tip: If you can say “would …” in English, Spanish probably uses the condicional simple.

The “si”‑clauses: typical pattern for hypotheses

In hypothetical sentences with si (if), Spanish uses a very regular pattern.

For A2 level, focus on this structure:

Part with si Main part Example
si + imperfect subjunctive condicional simple Si tuviera más dinero, alquilaría un piso en el centro.
  • Si + tuviera / fuera / estuviera / tuviera terraza…
  • … + alquilaría / comprarías / viviríamos / firmarían…

Examples related to housing:

  • Si el barrio fuera más tranquilo, firmaríamos el contrato.
  • Si la casa tuviera terraza, la compraría.
  • Si estuviera más barato, alquilarías este apartamento.

Important:

  • After si, do not use the conditional in Spanish.
  • Use the imperfect subjunctive (tuviera, fuera, estuviera…), even if in English you might say “if it would…”.

Visual contrast:

  • *Si estaría barato, lo alquilaría. ✗
  • Si estuviera barato, lo alquilaría. ✓

Conditional vs. future: what is the difference?

Both tenses use similar endings, so it is easy to mix them.

Use Form Example Meaning
Future infinitive + -é, -ás, -á… Alquilaré un piso el año que viene. I will rent (plan, prediction).
Conditional infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía… Alquilaría un piso si tuviera dinero. I would rent (hypothesis, depends on a condition).

Quick tests:

  • If you mean “will” → use future.
  • If you mean “would” → use conditional.

Compare:

  • Si firmas el contrato hoy, mañana te mudarás. – If you sign today, you will move tomorrow. (likely, realistic)
  • Si el piso fuera más barato, lo alquilarías. – If the flat were cheaper, you would rent it. (hypothesis, not real now)

Pronunciation and spelling: what to watch out for

The most frequent problems are small spelling mistakes that change the tense.

  • Always keep the whole infinitive:
    • *alquilría ✗ → alquilaría ✓
    • *viviría ✓ (correct): vivir + ía
  • Do not forget the accent on í:
    • *alquilarias ✗ → alquilarías ✓
    • *firmariamos ✗ → firmaríamos ✓
  • “Nosotros” and “vosotros”:
    • nosotros: -íamos → alquilaríamos, firmaríamos
    • vosotros: -íais → alquilaríais, viviríais

Mini-check: Can you see and correct the mistake?

  • *Nosotros firmariamos el contrato. → Nosotros firmaríamos el contrato.

Irregular verbs: small change, same endings

Some common verbs change the stem, but they still use the -ía, -ías… endings.

Infinitive Stem in conditional Example (yo) Meaning
tener tendr- tendría un piso más grande. I would have
hacer har- haría una reforma en la cocina. I would do / make
poder podr- No podría pagar este alquiler. I would be able
querer querr- Querría vivir en el centro. I would like / want

At A2, it is enough to recognise and use the most frequent ones: tendría, podría, querría, haría.

Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

  • 1. Using conditional after “si”
    • *Si estaría más barato, lo alquilaría. ✗
    • Si estuviera más barato, lo alquilaría. ✓
    • Remember: si + imperfect subjunctive, not conditional.
  • 2. Mixing future and conditional
    • *Si tuviera más dinero, alquilaré un ático. ✗
    • Si tuviera más dinero, alquilaría un ático. ✓ (hypothetical)
    • Ask yourself: do I mean “would”? Then use -ría.
  • 3. Forgetting the infinitive
    • *alquilía ✗ (no infinitive)
    • alquilaría ✓ (alquilar + ía)

Quick self-check: can you do this?

  • Can you explain in English when Spanish uses the simple conditional?
  • Can you build the six forms of one regular verb, e.g. vivir, in the conditional?
  • Can you write one sentence with:
    • a wish (without “si”), e.g. Me gustaría…
    • a polite recommendation, e.g. Yo alquilaría…
    • a hypothesis with “si”, e.g. Si tuviera… alquilaría…

If you can do this without looking at the table, you are ready to use the simple conditional confidently in conversation about housing and many other topics.

  1. It is formed with the infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.
Persona (Person)Forma (Form)Ejemplo (Example)
YoAlquilaría (I would rent)Yo alquilaría un piso pequeño. (I would rent a small apartment.)
TúAlquilarías (You would rent)¿Tú alquilarías una casa? (Would you rent a house?)
Él / ellaAlquilaría (He / she would rent)Ella alquilaría con sus amigos. (She would rent with her friends.)
Nosotros/asAlquilaríamos (We would rent)Nosotros alquilaríamos un ático. (We would rent a penthouse.)
Vosotros/asAlquilaríais (You would rent)¿Vosotros alquilaríais este apartamento? (Would you rent this apartment?)
Ellos/asAlquilarían (They would rent)Ellos alquilarían una casa en campo. (They would rent a house in the countryside.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. Con tu presupuesto, yo ___ un piso de estudiantes cerca del centro.

With your budget, I ___ a student flat near the city center.)

2. Si el barrio fuera más tranquilo, nosotros ___ el contrato de alquiler hoy mismo.

If the neighborhood were quieter, we ___ the rental contract today.)

3. Ellos ___ de alquiler un año y después comprarían un chalé en las afueras.

They ___ for a year and then buy a chalet on the outskirts.)

4. Yo ___ este edificio, porque ahora está en mal estado.

I ___ this building because it is in poor condition now.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that properly uses the simple conditional in each context related to buying or renting a home.

1.
Incorrect: 'I will rent' is future tense, not conditional, which is necessary to express a hypothesis.
Incorrect: 'rented' is the past imperfect subjunctive, not conditional. Here, the simple conditional ending '-ía' is needed.
2.
Incorrect: after 'if', the imperfect subjunctive 'were' is used, not the conditional 'would be'.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences using the simple conditional to express wishes, hypotheses or recommendations (for example: Quiero viajar a México. → Yo viajaría a México).

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Hint Hint (Yo) Quiero alquilar un piso en el centro.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Yo alquilaría un piso en el centro.
    (Yo alquilaría un piso en el centro.)
  2. Hint Hint (Tú) Es mejor que tú alquilas un estudio más barato.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Tú alquilarías un estudio más barato.
    (Tú alquilarías un estudio más barato.)
  3. Hint Hint (Él) Tal vez él compra una casa en la playa.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Él compraría una casa en la playa.
    (Él compraría una casa en la playa.)
  4. Hint Hint (Nosotros) Nos gusta mucho esta zona. Alquilamos aquí.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Nosotros alquilaríamos aquí.
    (Nosotros alquilaríamos aquí.)

Exercise 4: Grammar in action

Instruction: In pairs, decide which home you would rent and explain your reasons.

Show/Hide translation
Situation
En la inmobiliaria, dos amigos comparan anuncios para buscar residencia temporal.
(At the estate agency, two friends compare listings to look for temporary accommodation.)
Discuss
  • ¿Qué piso de estudiantes elegiríais para este año y por qué? (Which student flat would you choose for this year and why?)
  • ¿Alquilaríais un chalé o una vivienda en buen estado para recibir invitados? ¿Por qué sí o no?. ¿Por qué no?. ¿Por qué no?. ¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?. ¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no?.¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no?. ¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no? ____¿Por qué no?. Sorry about that. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. esta. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. Esta repetición indica corrupción del contenido. Por favor, reenvíe. Sorry about that. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt is corrupted. Please resend the content. This prompt es corrupto. ¡Fin de mensaje irrelevante y corrupto!. Please ignore the above corruption and continue with the exercise. (Would you rent a chalet or a well-kept house to host guests? Why or why not?)
Useful words and phrases
  • Yo alquilaría este piso de estudiantes en este barrio. (I would rent this student flat in this neighborhood.)
  • Nosotros firmaríamos un contrato de alquiler sólo para residencia temporal. (We would sign a rental agreement only for temporary residence.)
  • ¿Alquilarías una vivienda amueblada aunque los gastos de comunidad fueran altos? (Would you rent a furnished property even if the community fees were high?)
Use in conversation
  • Yo alquilaría / Nosotros alquilaríamos… porque… (I would rent / We would rent… because…)
  • ¿Tú qué harías / qué alquilarías en esta situación? (What would you do / what would you rent in this situation?)
  • Yo le recomendaría este piso porque… (I would recommend this flat because…)

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage