Futur stem + imparfait endings: the English “would”
The Conditionnel Présent — Polite, Imaginary, “What If…”
The Conditionnel Présent is the tense of courtesy, imagination, and “what if…” scenarios.
For learners, it’s a real gift : you don’t need to memorize new forms.
Instead, it’s a mix of two tenses you already know—the Futur Simple and the Imparfait.
It’s a simple tense to use, once you understand the logic.
The Magic Equation
Think of the conditional as a hybrid.
The secret: Take the stem of the Futur Simple and add the endings of the Imparfait.
Formula: Radical of Futur Simple + Imparfait endings
The Imparfait Endings (A Quick Reminder)
The Imparfait endings are the same for all verbs:
-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
Attach these to the Futur stem, and you’re done!
Visual Difference: Futur vs Conditional vs Imparfait
Compare the tenses:
| Tense | Example | Meaning / Use |
|---|---|---|
| Imparfait | Je mangeais | I was eating / I used to eat — ongoing or habitual past action |
| Futur Simple | Je mangerai | I will eat — definite action in the future |
| Conditionnel | Je mangerais | I would eat — polite, hypothetical, or imagining |
Notice the -s at the end of the conditional? That small change signals that you’re polite, hypothetical, or imagining.
👉 Pronunciation stays the same: the s is silent.
Full conjugation table of The Conditionnel Présent
| Pronoun | Imparfait (was / used to) | Future Simple (will) | Present Conditional (would) |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | mangeais | mangerai | mangerais |
| tu | mangeais | mangeras | mangerais |
| il/elle/on | mangeait | mangera | mangerait |
| nous | mangions | mangerons | mangerions |
| vous | mangiez | mangerez | mangeriez |
| ils/elles | mangeaient | mangeront | mangeraient |
Important Note 2
This is the most frequent spelling mistake for the first person (Je). One silent letter changes the entire meaning!
1. The Future (Certainty) Formula: Infinitive + -ai
- Je mangerai. (I will eat — it’s a plan).
- Focus: Real actions in the future.
2. The Conditional (Hypothesis) Formula: Future Stem + -ais (Imparfait ending)
- Je mangerais. (I would eat — if I could).
- Focus: Possibility or politeness.
💡 The Memory Trick: The Conditional is a hybrid. It takes the "body" of the Future but the "tail" (ending) of the Imparfait. If there is a "s", there is a "supposition"!
Key Takeaways
- Conditional = Futur stem + Imparfait endings
- Use it for polite requests, hypothetical situations, and “what if…” scenarios
- The endings are always -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
- Compare with Futur Simple: Je mangerai vs Je mangerais — the “s” changes everything!
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this intermediate level.
Practice French conjugation for free in the Croissant Verbs app
Quizzes and spaced repetition for every tense, for free on your phone—plus short grammar guides on our Learn hub.
