French for English speakers Street · Lesson 3

Conditional

French conditional for wishes — J'aimerais pouvoir parler des langues étrangères (I'd like to be able to speak foreign languages).

Conversation

Pronunciation Translations Tips

Lindo

J'aimerais pouvoir parler des langues étrangères.

I would love to talk foreign languages.
Magicat

Pourquoi ne commences-tu pas étudier ?

Why don't you start studying?
Lindo

J’aimerais bien, mais je n'ai pas le temps.

I'd love to, but I don't have time.

Tip: <avoir le temps> = to have the time.
Magicat

Tu pourrais peut-être essayer Noun Town.

Maybe you can try Noun Town.

Tip: <peut-être> = lit. maybe

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How is the French conditional formed?

Future stem + imperfect endings: aimer → aimerais, parler → parlerais. Used for politeness, hypotheticals, wishes.

What is une langue étrangère?

'A foreign language'. Étranger/étrangère = foreign/stranger. Apprendre une langue étrangère = learn a foreign language.

Pourquoi ne ... pas?

'Why don't you ...?' — a soft suggestion: Pourquoi ne commences-tu pas? = 'why don't you start?'. Common encouragement.