Verbs – The Conditional Tense – would / could / should

Summary of contents – Lesson 9

1-     What the conditional tense is and how it compares to the conditional tense as used in English. (Would, could and should.)

2-     When we use the conditional tense in Spanish and English.

3-     A look at how the conditional tense is formed for regular verbs. (Regular endings but with irregular stems!)

4-     A look at how the conditional tense is formed for irregular verbs. (Regular endings but with irregular stems!)

Aims of the lesson

1-     Understanding how the conditional tense is used in speech, when it might be used and how this compares to how the tense is used in English.

2-     To be able to apply the common conjugation rules to all verb endings that exist in the conditional tense and to be able to recognise various stem patterns for irregular verbs.

3-     Knowing how to correctly use and conjugate the conditional forms of ‘could’ and ‘should’.

4-     To appreciate how in reality, that the English words ‘would’, ‘could’ and ‘should’ cannot be directly translated into Spanish. These words alone do not exist!