Italian Demystified. A self-Teaching Guide
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(Loro) fi nirebbero you (polite plural) would fi nish
(loro) fi nirebbero they would fi nish
As with the simple future tense, to indicate that the hard c and g sounds of verbs
ending -care and -gare are to be maintained, an h is added to the spelling. Note,
then, the following spelling adjustments for the verbs cercare and pagare.
cercare cercher-
(io) cercherei I would search
(tu) cercheresti you (familiar) would search
(Lei) cercherebbe you (polite) would search
(lui/lei) cercherebbe he/she would search
(noi) cercheremmo we would search
(voi) cerchereste you (familiar plural) would search
(Loro) cercherebbero you (polite plural) would search
(loro) cercherebbero they would search
pagare pagher-
(io) pagherei I would pay
(tu) pagheresti you (familiar) would pay
(Lei) pagherebbe you (polite) would pay
(lui/lei) pagherebbe he/she would pay
(noi) pagheremmo we would pay
(voi) paghereste you (familiar plural) would pay
(Loro) pagherebbero you (polite plural) would pay
(loro) pagherebbero they would pay
And, also as with the future tense, the -i of verbs ending in -ciare or -giare is not
maintained in the conditional tense.
cominciare comincer-
(io) comincerei I would start
(tu) cominceresti you (familiar) would start
(Lei) comincerebbe you (polite) would start
(lui/lei) comincerebbe he/she would start
(noi) cominceremmo we would start
(voi) comincereste you (familiar plural) would start
(Loro) comincerebbero you (polite plural) would start
(loro) comincerebbero they would start
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mangiare manger-
(io) mangerei I would eat
(tu) mangeresti you (familiar) would eat
(Lei) mangerebbe you (polite) would eat
(lui/lei) mangerebbe he/she would eat
(noi) mangeremmo we would eat
(voi) mangereste you (familiar plural) would eat
(Loro) mangerebbero you (polite plural) would eat
(loro) mangerebbero they would eat
Oral Practice
Practice saying the following sentences out loud.
Compreresti questa macchina, Would you buy this car, Mark?
Marco?
Sì, comprerei quella macchina. Yes, I would buy that car.
Mangerebbe questi ravioli tuo Would your brother eat these ravioli?
fratello?
Sì, mangerebbe i ravioli subito. Yes, he would eat the ravioli right away.
Quando comincereste a lavorare When would you start working?
voi?
Noi cominceremmo subito. We would begin right away.
Loro pagherebbero il conto, vero? They would pay the bill, wouldn’t they?
Pagherebbero, ma non hanno soldi. They would pay, but they do not have
money.
Anche tu cercheresti lavoro, vero? You would also be looking for work,
right?
Sì, anch’io cercherei lavoro. Yes, I would be looking for work, too.
Maria, anche tu venderesti la Mary, would you also be selling your
macchina? car?
Venderei la macchina, ma non I would be selling the car, but I cannot.
posso.
Anche lui prenderebbe il He would be having cappuccino as well,
cappuccino, no? right?
Sì, prenderebbe il cappuccino, ma Yes, he would be having cappuccino,
non può. but he cannot.
Che cosa chiedereste voi al What would you ask the professor?
professore?
Chiederemmo tante cose. We would ask a lot of things.
È vero che loro leggerebbero quel Is it true that they would read that novel?
romanzo?
Sì, leggerebbero quel romanzo, ma Yes, they would read that novel, but they
non hanno tempo. do not have time.
È vero che partiresti per l’Italia, Is it true that you would be leaving for
Gino? Italy, Gino?
Sì, partirei subito, ma ancora non Yes, I would be leaving right away, but
posso. I cannot yet.
Che cosa preferirebbe tua sorella? What would your sister prefer?
Lei preferirebbe la minestra. She would prefer soup.
Quando uscireste oggi? When would you be going out today?
Noi usciremmo dopo cena. We would go out after dinner.
Quando aprirebbero i negozi? When would stores be opening up?
Di solito, non aprirebbero prima Usually, they would not be opening up
delle sette. before seven.
Marco, a che ora ti alzeresti? Mark, at what time would you be getting
up?
Io mi alzerei molto presto. I would be getting up very early.
Written Practice 1
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate conditional forms of the indicated verbs.
1. Loro questa macchina? Would they
buy this car?
Sì, quella macchina. Yes, they would
buy that car.
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2. questi ravioli, Marco? Would you eat
these ravioli, Mark?
Sì, quei ravioli subito. Yes, I would
eat those ravioli right away.
3. Quando a lavorare lui? When would
he start working?
Lui subito. He would begin right
away.
4. È vero che il conto voi? Is it true that
you would pay the bill?
Sì, , ma non abbiamo soldi. Yes, we
would pay, but we do not have money.
5. Lei lavoro, signor Verdi, vero? You
would be looking for work, Mr. Verdi, right?
Sì, io lavoro, ma non ho tempo. Yes, I
would be looking for work, but I do not have time.
6. È vero che anche lei la macchina? Is
it true that she also would be selling her car?
Sì, la macchina, ma non può. Yes,
she would be selling the car, but she cannot.
7. Anche tu il cappuccino, no? You
would be having cappuccino as well, right?
Sì, il cappuccino, ma non posso. Yes,
I would be having cappuccino, but I cannot.
8. Che cosa voi alla dottoressa? What
would you ask the doctor?
tante cose. We would ask a lot of
things.
9. È vero che loro quel romanzo? Is it
true that they would read that novel?
Sì, quel romanzo, ma non
possono. Yes, they would read that novel, but they cannot.
10. È vero che lei subito per l’Italia? Is it
true that she would leaving for Italy right away?
Sì, subito, ma ancora non può. Yes,
she would leave right away, but she cannot yet.
11. Che cosa voi? What would you
prefer?
Noi la minestra. We would prefer
soup.
12. Quando oggi, Maria? When would
you be going out today, Mary?
Io dopo cena. I would go out after
dinner.
13. Quando i negozi? When would stores
be opening up?
Di solito, non prima delle
sette. Usually, they would not be opening up before seven.
14. Signora, a che ora ? Madam, at what
time would you be getting up?
Io molto presto. I would be getting
up very early.
Irregular Forms in the Conditional Tense
As you may have guessed, the verbs that are irregular in the future tense are also
irregular in the conditional tense in the same way. The same verb stem is used for
the conditional as for the future, but this time the conditional endings are added on
instead of the future endings. For example, the irregular future and conditional
form of andare involves dropping both vowels from the infi nitive ending (andr-)
and then adding on the appropriate endings.
Here are some comparisons:
Future Conditional
io andrò I will go io andrei I would go
noi saremo we will be noi saremmo we would be
lui potrà he will be able to lui potrebbe he would be able to
loro verranno they will come loro verrebbero they would come
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Here are the complete conjugations of the irregular conditional verb forms of the
verbs you have encountered so far.
andare to go
(io) andrei, (tu) andresti, (lui/lei/Lei) andrebbe, (noi) andremmo, (voi) andreste, (loro/
Loro) andrebbero
avere to have
(io) avrò, (tu) avresti, (lui/lei/Lei) avrebbe, (noi) avremmo, (voi) avreste, (loro/Loro)
avrebbero
bere to drink
(io) berrei, (tu) berresti, (lui/lei/Lei) berrebbe, (noi) berremmo, (voi) berreste, (loro/Loro)
berrebbero
cadere to fall
(io) cadrei, (tu) cadresti, (lui/lei/Lei) cadrebbe, (noi) cadremmo, (voi) cadreste, (loro/
Loro) cadrebbero
dare to give
(io) darei, (tu) daresti, (lui/lei/Lei) darebbe, (noi) daremmo, (voi) dareste, (loro/Loro)
darebbero
dire to say, tell
(io) direi, (tu) diresti, (lui/lei/Lei) direbbe, (noi) diremmo, (voi) direste, (loro/Loro)
direbbero
dovere to have to
(io) dovrei, (tu) dovresti, (lui/lei/Lei) dovrebbe, (noi) dovremmo, (voi) dovreste, (loro/
Loro) dovrebbero
essere to be
(io) sarei, (tu) saresti, (lui/lei/Lei) sarebbe, (noi) saremmo, (voi) sareste, (loro/Loro)
sarebbero
fare to do, make
(io) farei, (tu) faresti, (lui/lei/Lei) farebbe, (noi) faremmo, (voi) fareste, (loro/Loro)
farebbero
potere to be able to
(io) potrei, (tu) potresti, (lui/lei/Lei) potrebbe, (noi) potremmo, (voi) potreste, (loro/Loro)
potrebbero
sapere to know
(io) saprei, (tu) sapresti, (lui/lei/Lei) saprebbe, (noi) sapremmo, (voi) sapreste, (loro/Loro)
saprebbero
stare to stay
(io) starei, (tu) staresti, (lui/lei/Lei) starebbe, (noi) staremmo, (voi) stareste, (loro/Loro)
starebbero
vedere to see
(io) vedrei, (tu) vedresti, (lui/lei/Lei) vedrebbe, (noi) vedremmo, (voi) vedreste, (loro/
Loro) vedrebbero
venire to come
(io) verrei, (tu) verresti, (lui/lei/Lei) verrebbe, (noi) verremmo, (voi) verreste, (loro/Loro)
verrebbero
volere to want
(io) vorrei, (tu) vorresti, (lui/lei/Lei) vorrebbe, (noi) vorremmo, (voi) vorreste, (loro/Loro)
vorrebbero
Oral Practice
Practice saying the following sentences out loud.
Marco, è vero che andresti in Italia? Mark, is it true that you would go to
Italy?
Sì, andrei in Italia volentieri, ma Yes, I would go to Italy gladly, but I
no posso. cannot.
È vero che lui non avrebbe pazienza? Is it true that he would not have
patience?
Sì, non avrebbe pazienza, anche Yes, he would not have patience, even if
se ha torto. he is wrong.
Che cosa berreste voi alla festa? What would you be drinking at the party?
Noi berremmo solo il caffè. We would drink only coffee.
Che cosa darebbero loro agli amici? What would they give to their friends?
Non darebbero niente. They would give nothing.
Dove dovresti andare domani, Where should you be going tomorrow,
Giovanni? John?
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Dovrei andare a fare delle spese. I should be going shopping.
Chi sarebbe quella persona? Who would (must) that person be?
Non so chi sarebbe. I do not know who she must be.
Che cosa farebbero loro invece What would they (like to) do instead of
di studiare? studying?
Farebbero tante cose. They would do a lot of things.
Maria, potresti venire alla festa? Mary, would you be able to come to the
party?
No, non potrei venire, perché No, I would not be able to come, because
devo studiare. I have to study.
È vero che lui saprebbe tutto? Is it true that he would know everything?
Sì, lui saprebbe tutto. Yes, he would know everything.
Andrea e Laura, dove stareste Andrew and Laura, where would you be
in Italia? staying in Italy?
Staremmo in un albergo. We would be staying in a hotel.
Chi verrebbe alla festa? Who would come to the party?
Tutti verrebbero. Everybody would come.
Che cosa vorrebbe fare tuo fratello What would your brother want to do
domani? tomorrow?
Vorrebbe andare al cinema. He would want to go to the movies.
Written Practice 2
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate conditional forms of the indicated verbs.
1. È vero che tuo fratello in Italia? Is it true that
your brother would go to Italy?
Sì, in Italia volentieri, ma non può. Yes, he would
go to Italy gladly, but he cannot.
2. È vero che tu non pazienza con noi, Marco? Is it
true that you would not have patience with us, Mark?
Sì, non pazienza. Yes, I would not have patience.
3. Che cosa loro alla festa? What would they be
drinking at the party?
Loro solo il caffè. They would be drinking only
coffee.
4. Che cosa voi agli amici? What would you give to
your friends?
Non niente. We would give nothing.
5. Dove andare domani, il tuo amico? Where should
your friend be going tomorrow?
andare a fare delle spese. He should be going
shopping.
6. Chi quella donna? Who must that woman be?
Non so chi . I do not know who she must be.
7. Che cosa , Dino, invece di studiare? What would
you (like to) do, Dino, instead of studying?
tante cose. I would be doing a lot of things.
8. Franco, venire alla festa? Frank, would you be
able to come to the party?
No, non venire, perché devo studiare. No, I would
not be able to come, because I have to study.
9. È vero che loro tutto? Is it true that they would
know everything?
Sì, tutto. Yes, they would know everything.
10. Ragazzi, dove in Italia? Guys, where would you
be staying in Italy?
in un albergo. We would be staying in a hotel.
11. anche tu, Pino, alla festa? Would you come to the
party, too, Pino?
Sì, , anch’io. Yes, I would come, too.
12. Che cosa fare lei domani? What would she want
to do tomorrow?
andare al cinema. She would want to go to the
movies.
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Past Conditional Tense
The past conditional (also known as the conditional perfect) is a compound tense. It
is formed with the conditional of the auxiliary verb plus the past participle of the
verb showing the action, in that order. Here are two examples of complete verb con-
jugations for you: one is conjugated with avere and the other with essere.
mangiare to eat
(io) avrei mangiato I would have eaten
(tu) avresti mangiato you (familiar) would have eaten
(Lei) avrebbe mangiato you (polite) would have eaten
(lui/lei) avrebbe mangiato he/she would have eaten
(noi) avremmo mangiato we would have eaten
(voi) avreste mangiato you (familiar plural) would have eaten
(Loro) avrebbero mangiato you (polite plural) would have eaten
(loro) avrebbero mangiato they would have eaten
partire to leave
(io) sarei partito/a I would have left
(tu) saresti partito/a you (familiar) would have left
(Lei) sarebbe partito/a you (polite) would have left
(lui/lei) sarebbe partito/a he/she would have left
(noi) saremmo partiti/e we would have left
(voi) sareste partiti/e you (familiar plural) would have left
(Loro) sarebbero partiti/e you (polite plural) would have left
(loro) sarebbero partiti/e they would have left
The Italian conditional perfect tense corresponds to the English past condi-
tional—I would have . . . , you would have . . . , and so on. It is used to refer to con-
ditional or hypothetical actions that can only logically be expressed in a perfect
tense.
Ha detto che sarebbe venuto. He said that he would have come.
Sapeva che io avrei capito. He knew that I would have understood.
Avrei voluto comprare quella I would have wanted to buy that car,
macchina, ma non avevo soldi. but I did not have the money.