B1IntermediateVerbs · Point 26 / 40
je pourrais, ce serait, il faudrait, j'aimerais
The conditional (“je pourrais”, “ce serait”, “il faudrait”, “j’aimerais”) softens a request and is also used to talk about something possible but not certain.
| Structure | Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| je pourrais | — | I could (polite form of “je peux”) |
| ce serait | — | it would be (polite form of “c’est”) |
| il faudrait | — | it would be necessary (polite form of “il faut”) |
| j'aimerais | — | I would like (polite form of “je veux”) |
It is built on the future stem (“je pourrai”) with the imparfait endings (“je pourrais”).
Examples from our dialogues 5 · 5 with audio
- Listen
Bonjour, j'aimerais ouvrir un compte bancaire, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, I’d like to open a bank account, please.
Check The Full DialogueOpening a bank account
- Listen
Tout à fait. Est-ce qu'on pourrait échanger nos coordonnées ?
Absolutely. Could we exchange our contact information?
Check The Full DialogueIntroducing yourself to a contact at a conference
- Listen
Vous pourriez déléguer davantage. Vous prenez parfois trop de tâches sur vous.
You could delegate more. You sometimes take on too many tasks yourself.
Check The Full DialogueGoing through your annual performance review
- Listen
Exactement. Il faudrait fournir une preuve de résidence plus récente que celle que vous avez envoyée.
Exactly. You would need to provide a more recent proof of residence than the one you sent.
Check The Full DialogueClarifying missing documents with a clerk
- Listen
Ce serait parfait. Merci de votre compréhension.
That would be perfect. Thank you for understanding.
Check The Full DialogueHandling a noise issue with a neighbour
Common mistakes
Je veux un rendez-vous demain.J'aimerais un rendez-vous demain.
“Je veux” is not a grammar error, but to an employee or a stranger it sounds like an order. “J’aimerais” or “je voudrais” says the same thing politely.
Si j'avais le temps, je viendrai.Si j'avais le temps, je viendrais.
After “si + imparfait”, the result is in the conditional (“je viendrais”), not the future. The final “s” changes the meaning: “je viendrai” = it is decided, “je viendrais” = if it were possible.
Practise speaking
Démarches et consultationsProcedures and consultations
Government offices, the bank, appointments — the French of official procedures.
These dialogues use this point. They open on the dialogue page (audio, vocabulary to save).