FRENCH VERBS: CONDITIONAL TENSEWho is doing the verb?

Which subject pronoun do I need?What do I need to do to create the stem for the verb?What are the correct endings that need to be added?

AIMS:To learn how to recognise regular and irregular conditional tense verbs.

To learn how to form regular and irregular conditional tense verbs.

What are conditional tense verbs?

• Conditional tense verbs describe an action that would happen in the future (if, for example, something else were to happen as well).

• Examples in English are: I would run and I would hide (if a bear was chasing me!).

1. The first great thing about the conditional tense is that the endings are always the same. It is only the stem that changes (on occasions).

2. The second great thing is that the endings are exactly the same as the imperfect tense.

VERBS ARE LIKE FLOWERS IN THE CONDITIONAL TENSERE

GAR

DER

FINIR

RÉPO

NDREHEAD >

STEM >

NOT

VERBS ARE LIKE BUILDING BLOCKS BECAUSE THEY LOOK TO THE FUTURE. AS A RESULT, YOU ADD

ENDINGS TO INFINITIVES.

Think of it as building to the future OR in the case of the conditional tense, how things would be (in the future).

There is also a magic letter (ooooo!)

RAll endings should come directly after the magic R in every case.

That magic R is why we do a little bit of chopping when we remove the E from the –RE infinitives.

REGARDERFINIRRÉPONDRE

REGARDERFINIR

RÉPONDR_

Step 1: Choose the correct subject pronoun (the person doing the verb).

ENGLISH FRENCH

1STSINGULA

R

I je/j’2ND YOU tu3RD HE/SHE/WE il/elle/on1ST

PLURAL

WE nous2ND YOU vous3RD THEY ils/elles

That magic R is why we do a little bit of chopping when we remove the E from the –RE infinitives.

REGARDERFINIRRÉPONDRE

REGARDERFINIR

RÉPONDR_

Step 3: Add the correct ending to make the conditional tense.The great thing is that the endings are exactly the same as the

imperfect tense!

avoir -ER -IR -REJe

Stem + aisStem + aisStem + aitStem + ionsStem + iezStem + aient

Tu

il/elle/on

Nous

Vous

ils/elles

Now you will see a demonstration of how to apply this knowledge in some examples.

When creating verbs yourself, you can either use a paper dictionary or an online dictionary like www.wordreference.com

Look at the following examples and conjugate verbs by following the patterns.

Remember the 3 important steps.

Pause the video to complete each task before carrying on.

Remember: Practice makes perfect.

ER

• E.g. regarder to watch

• Je regarderais• Tu regarderais• Il/Elle regarderait• Nous regarderions• Vous regarderiez• Ils/Elles regarderaient

Conjugate 3 of these verbs following the same pattern as regarder:

Aimer – to like (J’ in the “I” form)Jouer – to playTravailler – to workMarcher – to walkDessiner – to drawDétester – to hateCopier – to copyPorter – to wearÉcouter – to listen (J’ in the “I” form)Voyager – to travelManger – to eat

IR

• E.g. finir to finish

• Je finirais• Tu finirais• Il/Elle finirait• Nous finirions• Vous finiriez• Ils/Elles finiraient

Conjugate 3 of these verbs following the same pattern as finir:bâtir - to buildchoisir – to chooseétablir - to establish (J’ in the “I” form)grossir - to gain weight, get fatguérir - to cure, heal, recovermaigrir - to lose weight, get thinnourrir - to feed, nourishpunir – to punishréussir – to succeed

RE

• E.g. répondre to answer/respond

• Je répondrais• Tu répondrais• Il/Elle répondrait• Nous répondrions• Vous répondriez• Ils/Elles répondraient

Conjugate 3 of these verbs following the same pattern as répondre:

entendre - to hear (J’ in the “I” form)pendre - to hang, suspendperdre - to loseprétendre - to claimrendre - to give back, returnrépandre - to spread, scattervendre - to sell

AIDE-MÉMOIRE: FRENCH CONDITIONAL TENSESubject + (space) + Stem* + Ending

• je/j’ + ais• tu + ais• il/elle/on + ait• nous + ions• vous + iez• ils/elles + aient

Je mangerais – I would eatTu remplirais – You would fill

Vous vendriez – You would sell

*Stem = The Infinitive, except for –RE verbs where you must remove the –E first. Remember the irregulars too!

.

Now translate these verbs into French, remembering the important steps.

Pause the video, complete the activity and then mark your work. If you get it wrong, correct your answer so you learn from your mistake.

1. I would copy2. She would travel3. They (m) would punish4. We would lose5. You (s) would succeed6. He would wear

• Je copierais• Elle voyagerait• Ils puniraient• Nous perdrions• Tu réussirais• Il porterait

The irregular verbs• There are some very important irregular verbs that need to be considered. • Can you guess which ones? • They are the usual suspects: être, avoir, faire and aller. The good news is that

the endings are still the same, so no need to worry too much. Once you know the stems, you just need to apply all your wonderful knowledge.

• Être – ser • Avoir – aur• Faire – fer• Aller – irPLUS THESE COMMON VERBS• To have to (must) - Devoir – devr• To be able to (can) - Pouvoir – pourr• To know - Savoir - saur

Now translate these verbs into French, remembering the important steps and the fact that these are all irregular!

Pause the video, complete the activity and then mark your work. If you get it wrong, correct your answer so you learn from your mistake.

1. I would go2. He would do/make3. We would be able to4. You (p) would have to 5. I would be6. They would have

1. J’irais2. Il ferait3. Nous pourrions4. Vous devriez5. Je serais6. Ils/Elles auraient

FRENCH VERBS: CONDITIONAL TENSEWho is doing the verb?

Which subject pronoun do I need?What do I need to do to create the stem for the verb?What are the correct endings that need to be added?

AIMS:To learn how to recognise regular and irregular conditional tense verbs.

To learn how to form regular and irregular conditional tense verbs.