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Verb drill

Si + imparfait, conditional: a French hypothesis drill

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Build imagined situations with si j’avais and je pourrais. Study the two stems, then complete twelve verb forms in conditions, results and advice.

In short

Use si + imparfait for an imagined condition and the present conditional for its result: Si j’avais plus de temps, je lirais davantage. The situation can concern now or tomorrow.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

An adult reads peacefully beside a window in a French apartment.
The reading corner gives si j’avais plus de temps, je lirais davantage a setting. Illustration: Atelier

Study first: two halves, two stems

The condition and its result
Condition: imparfaitResult: conditionalMeaning
Si j’avais plus de temps,je lirais davantage.If I had more time, I would read more.
Si nous habitions plus près,nous viendrions à pied.If we lived nearer, we would come on foot.
Si tu étais libre demain,nous pourrions travailler ensemble.If you were free tomorrow, we could work together.

For the imparfait, use the present nous stem plus -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient: nous avons → j’avais. Être uses ét-: j’étais. For the conditional, use the future stem with those same endings: viendr- + -ions → viendrions.

Je viendrais si j’étais libre demain.

I would come if I were free tomorrow.

Putting the result first keeps each verb’s job the same. The imparfait condition still concerns tomorrow.

Si tu es libre, je viendrai.If you are free, I will come.

Focus: an open possibility

Si tu es libre demain, je viendrai.
If you are free tomorrow, I will come.

Si tu étais libre, je viendrais.If you were free, I would come.

Focus: a situation presented as hypothetical

Si tu étais libre demain, je viendrais.
If you were free tomorrow, I would come.

Complete each gap with the verb in brackets. The first part practises conditions; the second supplies results. In the final part, imagine taking someone else’s place. Each answer is one conjugated verb, so keep the subject already printed before the gap.

1 · Build the condition: imparfait

  1. Si j’ plus de temps, je lirais davantage. (avoir)
  2. Si tu libre demain, je viendrais. (être)
  3. Si nous plus près, nous viendrions à pied. (habiter)
  4. Si elles rester, nous continuerions. (pouvoir)

2 · Build the result: present conditional

  1. Si j’avais le choix, je demain. (partir)
  2. Si tu venais, nous contents. (être)
  3. Si vous aviez le temps, vous nous aider. (pouvoir)
  4. Si elle était disponible, elle avec nous. (venir)

3 · Give advice: imagine another person’s position

  1. Si j’ toi, je demanderais une explication. (être · imparfait)
  2. Si j’étais toi, je le numéro. (vérifier · conditional)
  3. À ta place, je une pause. (faire · conditional)
  4. Si nous étions à votre place, nous la réponse. (attendre · conditional)

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