The Italian Conditional Mode – Il Modo Condizionale

The Present Conditional – Il Condizionale Presente (o semplice)

The Present Conditional tense is made up of taking -ARE, -ERE, -IRE off and adding the appropriate conditional ending:

Just like with the Future tense, the Present Conditional has the same endings for both -ARE and -ERE verbs.

Both “ESSERE” (“to be“) and “AVERE” (“to have“) are irregular in the Present Conditional:

The Present Conditional has the same irregular verbs as the Future tense.

• All verbs ending in -CARE and -GARE are irregular and take an “H” for every person:

• This group of verbs takes off the “A” in -ARE or the “E” in -ERE, before adding the ending:

Dovrei studiare più Italiano, sbaglio sempre I verbi irregolari! / I should study more Italian, I always get the irregular verbs wrong

Potresti accompagnarmi alla stazione domani? / Would you come to the station with me tomorrow?

• This group takes a double “R”:

 Pay attention: the Present Conditional forms of “VOLERE” (“io vorrei”) and “VENIRE” (“io verrei”) are very similar.

Rimarrei volentieri in vacanza per tutto il mese! / I would stay on holiday all month!

Lucia vorrebbe saper cucinare bene! / Lucia would like to be able to cook well

• This group just adds the ending to the normal infinitive:

• All verbs that end in -DURRE behave in the same way:

Tradurrei volentieri anche questo libro, ma ho troppo lavoro! / I would translate this book, but I have too much work!

Il mio capo condurrebbe meglio l’azienda senza tutte quelle pressioni / My boss would manage the business better without all of this pressure.

The Present Conditional is used to:

• Express desires in the present

Andrei al mare, berrei un aperitivo e farei spese pazze! / I would go to the sea, I would drink an aperitif and would go on a shopping spree

Vorrei andare in vacanza a Miami! / I would like to go to Miami on holiday

• Ask something kindly or more politely

Scusi, potrebbe chiudere la porta? / Excuse me, could you close the door?

Scusa, mi presteresti la tua penna? / Excuse me, would you loan me your pen?

• To give advice or recommendations

Al tuo posto, mi farei bionda, non mi piaci così scura / If I were you, I would go blonde, I don’t like you so dark

Al suo posto Signora, prenderei un taxi! A quest’ora non ci sono più autobus / If I were you Miss, I would take a taxi! There aren’t any more buses at this time.

• To disapprove or criticize something or someone

Dovresti studiare di più se vuoi passare l’esame / You should study more if you want to pass the exam

Marco è spericolato…dovrebbe guidare più lentamente! / Marco is reckless…he should drive more slowly!

• To hypothesise or discuss probability

Domani potrebbe piovere, il cielo è molto scuro! / Tomorrow it could rain, the sky is very dark

Stefano dovrebbe arrivare per le 14:50, il treno parte alle 15:00! / Stefano should arrive for 14.50, the train leaves at 15.00

• To show doubt or uncertainty

Non so se Marco si comporterebbe nello stesso modo! / I don’t know if Marco would behave in the same way!

Non so se tu vorresti un capo come il mio, è molto severo / I don’t know if you want a boss like mine, he’s very strict

• In second level hypothetical phrases, talking about possible hypothesis: 

         IF + Imperfect Subjunctive [hypothesis] + Present Conditional [consequence]

Se io possedessi dei vestiti di Valentino sarei molto felice / If I had some Valentino’s dresses, I would be very happy

Se il tempo domani fosse bello andrei al mare / If the weather were good tomorrow, I would go to the seaside

• In third level hypothetical phrases, when talking about something impossible in the present:

          IF + Imperfect Subjunctive [hypothesis]  + Present Conditional [consequence] 

Se fossi ricco, mi comprerei una Ferrari / If I were rich, I would buy a Ferrari

Se non fossimo Italiani, ci piacerebbe essere Americani / If we were not Italians, we would like to be American.    

The Past Conditional – Il Condizionale Passato (o composto)

The Past Conditional is made up of the Present Conditional form of “AVERE” (to have) or “ESSERE” (to be) + the Past Participle of the verb:

Both “AVERE” and “ESSERE” are irregular:

Sarei venuto volentieri alla tua festa di compleanno, ma dovevo studiare / I would have come to your party, but I had to study

Avrei mangiato volentieri del pesce stasera, ma la pescheria era già chiusa / I would have eaten some fish tonight, but the fishmongers was closed

The Past Conditional is used to express:

• Impossible or unattainable actions, which did not or cannot happen (both in the present and in the past)  

Oggi sarei andata volentieri in palestra, ma devo lavorare / Today I would have gone to the gym, but I have to work.

Domani avrei fatto un giro al mare, ma le previsioni sono pessime/ Tomorrow I would have gone to the sea, but the forecasts are terrible.

Ieri avrei cenato al ristorante indiano, ma era chiuso / Yesterday I would have eaten at the Indian restaurant, but it was closed.

• For talking about the future in the past; when there are two actions in the past, the second one is expressed using the Past Conditional (¹ = first action in the past; ² = second action in the past or future in the past)

Sapevo¹ che Anna si sarebbe sposata², ma non credevo così presto / I knew that Anna would get married, but I didn’t think it would be that soon

Pensavamo¹ che Laura avrebbe telefonato² il giorno dopo / We thought that Laura would have called the next day

Credevi¹ che sarei rimasta² a Firenze? / Did you think that I would have stayed in Florence?

• The Imperfect of the verbs “DOVERE, POTERE, VOLERE” can be used instead of the Past conditional 

Dovevo = Avrei dovuto studiare, ma non l’ho fatto / I should have studied but I didn’t

Potevi = Avresti potuto telefonarmi! Perché non l’hai fatto? / You could have called me! Why didn’t you?

Volevo = Avrei voluto un gatto, ma nessuno me l’ha regalato/ I would have wanted a cat, but no one gave me one.

• In third hypothetical phrases, when talking about something impossible in the past:

          IF + Past Perfect Subjunctive [hypothesis] + Past Conditional [consequence]

Se ieri avessi preso l’autobus, non sarei arrivata in ritardo / If I had taken the bus yesterday, I wouldn’t have arrived late

Se non mi fossi ammalata, avrei fatto spot nel pomeriggio / If I hadn’t been ill, I would have done some sports in the afternoon  

Se fossi nata in Giappone, avrei abitato a Tokyo / If I had been born in Japan, I would have lived in Tokyo

• Unconfirmed news:

Secondo le ultime notizie  avrebbe vinto Obama, speriamo / According to the latest news Obama has won, we hope

Non vedo Marco da tanto, si dice che si sarebbe trasferito in Olanda / I haven’t seen Marco in a long time, they say that he has moved to Holland

La radio dice che il governo sarebbe giunto ad un accordo / The radio says that the government has reached an agreement