Portuguese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
The conditional (futuro do pretérito)
How to form the conditional (falaria, faria) and use it for polite requests, advice and unreal results, and how speech often uses the imperfect instead.
Forms
The conditional means “would”. Its Portuguese name, , means “future of the past”. Add -ia, -ias, -ia, -íamos, -iam to the infinitive. Only three verbs are irregular, the same three as in the simple future: → , → , → .
In very formal writing an object pronoun can go inside the verb: (one would say). You only need to recognise this; nobody speaks like that.
| Person | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| / / | |||
| / / |
Polite requests and wishes
The conditional makes a request softer: (Could you…?), , (Would it be possible…?). (I would like to) is the polite way to say what you want in shops, offices and emails.
- O senhor poderia me ajudar?Could you help me?
- Gostaria de marcar uma consulta.I'd like to make an appointment.
- Seria possível pagar em duas vezes?Would it be possible to pay in two instalments?
- A senhora teria um minuto?Would you have a minute?
Advice, unreal results and the future in the past
To give advice, put yourself in the other person's place: (If I were you, I'd talk to her). (should) is also common: .
The conditional gives the result of an unreal clause: (If I could, I'd live by the beach). It also reports what someone said about the future: (He said he would come).
- Eu, no seu lugar, falaria com ela.If I were you, I'd talk to her.
- Você deveria descansar mais.You should rest more.
- Se eu pudesse, moraria na praia.If I could, I'd live by the beach.
- Ele disse que viria às oito.He said he would come at eight.
In speech: the imperfect instead
In everyday Brazilian speech the conditional is often replaced by the imperfect: (I'd love to), (Could you help me?), . For the future in the past, + infinitive is usual: . Both forms are correct; the conditional sounds more careful and is the norm in writing.
| Careful or written | Everyday speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I'd love to. | ||
| Could you help me? | ||
| That would be great. | ||
| He said he would come. | ||
| I'd buy a house. |