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The condizionale is an important mood in the Italian language.

Moods are families of verb tenses that serve different logical functions. They are containers, tools for communicating various situations in everyday life: reality, a wish, a command, a completed or incomplete action, and so on.

In detail, the moods of the Italian language are seven, each with a specific function. They represent the “ecosystem” where Italian verbs modify their function.

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It’s important to note that the Italian conditional is an independent set of tenses, separate from the indicative, the tenses that we use to describe reality. While it often works in conjunction with the indicative and the subjunctive (congiuntivo), it stands on its own in terms of conjugation and usage.

The condizionale mood in Italian is used to express actions or events that are dependent on a condition, much like the English “would.” However, its usage is more versatile. It not only expresses hypothetical situations, but also politeness, desires, and future events viewed from the past. For example, where English might say “I would go,” Italian uses the condizionale andrei to indicate that the action depends on specific conditions. Vorrei andare, on the other hand, expresses only the desire to go, and is often a simplified translation for English speakers.

The Italian conditional mood has two tenses:

• Condizionale presente (also called condizionale semplice): This is used for present or future hypothetical situations. For example, “Berrei un caffè” (I would drink a coffee) or “Potremmo andare al cinema” (We could go to the cinema).
  
• Condizionale passato (also called condizionale composto): This is used for past hypothetical situations or to express an action that would have happened before another action in the past. For instance, “Sarei andato alla festa se avessi avuto tempo” (I would have gone to the party if I had had time).

In this lesson, we are going to learn in detail all the uses of the condizionale. We will explore how this versatile mood can be employed in various situations, from making polite requests to expressing hypothetical scenarios. By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of when and how to use the conditional mood in Italian, enhancing your ability to communicate with greater nuance and sophistication.

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Understanding the Italian Conditional (Condizionale Presente)

The condizionale presente is a fundamental verb tense in Italian, used to express hypothetical situations, desires, or polite requests.

Imagine you’re making plans, expressing a wish, or requesting something gently—you would use this tense to sound more respectful or speculative.

For instance, if you’re thinking about something you’d like to do, like traveling, you might say, “Mi piacerebbe visitare Firenze” (I would like to visit Florence). The conditional softens your statement, making it more courteous and less direct than simply saying, “I want.”

But the condizionale is more than just about politeness; it also allows speakers to express hypothetical scenarios, especially when imagining outcomes that are contingent on specific conditions. For example, “Se avessi più tempo, leggerei quel libro” (If I had more time, I would read that book) suggests that your reading is dependent on having extra time, an imagined scenario.

In this case, the condizionale works with the congiuntivo, another mood that expresses situations far from reality. We are not going to explain in detail the congiuntivo in this chapter.

Let’s recap. The condizionale presente has several key uses:

1. Politeness: It’s often used to soften requests or suggestions, making them more courteous and less imposing. For example:
   • Direct: “Chiudi la finestra.” (Close the window.)
   • Polite: “Potresti chiudere la finestra, per favore?” (Could you close the window, please?)
   • Direct: “Prestami il tuo libro.” (Lend me your book.)
   • Polite: “Ti dispiacerebbe prestarmi il tuo libro?” (Would you mind lending me your book?)
2. Hypothetical actions: When expressing something that could happen under certain circumstances, the conditional is perfect. For instance:
   • “Se vincessi alla lotteria, comprerei una casa al mare.” (If I won the lottery, I would buy a house by the sea.)
   • “Se avessi più tempo libero, imparerei a suonare il pianoforte.” (If I had more free time, I would learn to play the piano.)
3. Expressing desires or wishes: The condizionale can express hopes or aspirations without making a direct statement of intent. For example:
   • “Mi piacerebbe visitare il Giappone un giorno.” (I would like to visit Japan one day.)
   • “Vorrei poter parlare cinque lingue fluentemente.” (I would love to be able to speak five languages fluently.)
4. Indirect or speculative statements: In more formal or indirect speech, the condizionale can indicate speculation or uncertainty. For example:
   • “Secondo le previsioni, domani potrebbe nevicare.” (According to the forecast, it might snow tomorrow.)
   • “Si dice che il nuovo film di Sorrentino sarebbe un capolavoro.” (It’s said that Sorrentino’s new film would be a masterpiece.)
5. Giving advice: The conditional can be used to offer suggestions tactfully. For example:
   
   
   
   • “Dovresti prendere in considerazione l’idea di studiare all’estero.” (You should consider studying abroad.)
   
   
   • “Sarebbe meglio se parlassi con il tuo capo di questo problema.” (It would be better if you spoke to your boss about this issue.)
   
   

How is che Condizionale Presente Formed?

The condizionale presente is built using the root of the verb’s infinitive form, with the following endings:

Subject	Mangiare (ARE)	Leggere (ERE)	Dormire (IRE)
Io	mangerei	leggerei	dormirei
Tu	mangeresti	leggeresti	dormiresti
Lui/Lei	mangerebbe	leggerebbe	dormirebbe
Noi	mangeremmo	leggeremmo	dormiremmo
Voi	mangereste	leggereste	dormireste
Loro	mangerebbero	leggerebbero	dormirebbero

As you can see, the condizionale presente, also called condizionale semplice, is rather predictable. The endings of -ARE and -ERE verbs are the same. The ending of -IRE verbs is slightly different but absolutely predictable. The difference within the -IRE conjugation of the presente tense now disappears: io capirei and io dormirei now have the same endings.

Examples in Everyday Contexts

Here are some nuanced examples of the condizionale presente in everyday situations:

• Mi piacerebbe cambiare lavoro, ma non è il momento giusto.
  (I would like to change jobs, but it’s not the right time.)
• Investirei in quell’azienda, ma il rischio è troppo alto.
  (I would invest in that company, but the risk is too high.)
• Potremmo organizzare una conferenza la prossima settimana, se il calendario lo permette.
  (We could organize a conference next week, if the schedule allows.)
• Sapresti indicarmi la strada per l’ufficio postale?
  (Would you be able to tell me the way to the post office?)
• Mi piacerebbe trasferirmi in un’altra città per migliorare la mia qualità di vita.
  (I would like to move to another city to improve my quality of life.)
• Viaggerei di più, se avessi più tempo libero.
  (I would travel more if I had more free time.)
• Acquisterei una casa in campagna, ma i prezzi sono davvero alti.
  (I would buy a house in the countryside, but the prices are really high.)

Irregular Verbs in the Condizionale Presente

Irregular verbs in the condizionale presente follow specific patterns, mainly involving changes to their stems, but they still use the regular conditional endings (-ei, -esti, -ebbe, -emmo, -este, -ebbero). Below are some of the main irregular verbs, starting with essere (to be) and avere (to have), followed by a broader list of common irregular patterns.

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Essere and Avere

These two essential verbs are among the most irregular in Italian, as their stems change significantly in the condizionale form.

Subject	Essere	Avere
Io	sarei	avrei
Tu	saresti	avresti
Lui/Lei	sarebbe	avrebbe
Noi	saremmo	avremmo
Voi	sareste	avreste
Loro	sarebbero	avrebbero

Examples:

• Sarei molto felice di aiutarti. (I would be very happy to help you.)
• Avremmo più tempo domani. (We would have more time tomorrow.)

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Common Irregular Verbs and Their Conditional Forms

Subject	Volere (to want)	Potere (to be able to)	Dovere (to have to)	Andare (to go)
Io	vorrei	potrei	dovrei	andrei
Tu	vorresti	potresti	dovresti	andresti
Lui/Lei	vorrebbe	potrebbe	dovrebbe	andrebbe
Noi	vorremmo	potremmo	dovremmo	andremmo
Voi	vorreste	potreste	dovreste	andreste
Loro	vorrebbero	potrebbero	dovrebbero	andrebbero

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Italian Irregular Conditional Verbs

Here’s an overview of how certain irregular verbs change in the Italian conditional tense. Some verbs alter their root and endings while maintaining regular conditional endings.

Verbs that double the “R”:

• Rimanere (to remain): Io rimarrei a casa oggi. (I would stay home today.)
• Tenere (to hold): Lei terrebbe il libro in mano. (She would hold the book.)
• Volere (to want): Noi vorremmo partire presto. (We would like to leave early.)
• Venire (to come): Loro verrebbero alla festa. (They would come to the party.)
• Bere (to drink): Tu berresti un caffè? (Would you drink a coffee?)

Verbs that lose the “E”:

• Avere (to have): Io avrei bisogno di aiuto. (I would need help.)
• Dovere (must): Tu dovresti studiare di più. (You should study more.)
• Sapere (to know): Lei saprebbe rispondere. (She would know how to answer.)
• Potere (to be able to): Noi potremmo andare al cinema. (We could go to the cinema.)
• Cadere (to fall): Se non stai attento, cadresti. (You would fall.)
• Godere (to enjoy): Loro godrebbero della vista. (They would enjoy the view.)
• Vedere (to see): Io vedrei un film stasera. (I would watch a movie tonight.)
• Vivere (to live): Lei vivrebbe in campagna. (She would live in the countryside.)

Important -are Verbs Maintaining the “A”, similar to “essere”.

• Fare (to do): Noi faremmo una passeggiata. (We would take a walk.)
• Stare (to stay): Io starei meglio a casa. (I would feel better at home.)
• Dare (to give): Mi daresti una mano? (Would you lend a hand?)

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Past Conditional (Condizionale Passato)

The condizionale passato, or composto, is a crucial tense for expressing hypothetical actions or events that could have occurred but did not. This tense allows speakers to reflect on what might have happened, often to express regrets, missed opportunities, or conditions that were not met. It also appears frequently in formal writing and polite conversations where the speaker wishes to be indirect.

The condizionale passato uses the auxiliary verbs essere or avere in the conditional tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb. The choice of auxiliary follows the same pattern as with compound tenses like the passato prossimo. Essere is used with verbs of motion, reflexive verbs, and verbs indicating changes of state, while avere is used with transitive verbs (verbs that can have a direct object).

How is it Formed?

The condizionale passato is formed by combining the auxiliary verb (essere or avere) in the condizionale presente, followed by the past participle of the main verb. Remember to make agreement in gender and number when the auxiliary is essere.

Subject	Essere	Avere
Io	sarei andato/a	avrei mangiato
Tu	saresti andato/a	avresti mangiato
Lui/Lei	sarebbe andato/a	avrebbe mangiato
Noi	saremmo andati/e	avremmo mangiato
Voi	sareste andati/e	avreste mangiato
Loro	sarebbero andati/e	avrebbero mangiato

Essere and avere follow different rules for agreement common to all Italian compound tenses (e.g., Passato Prossimo). With verbs that use essere, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject (e.g., sarei andato for “I would have gone” when the subject is male, and sarei andata when female). However, with avere, the past participle generally remains unchanged.

The Italian conditional past is employed to express an action that was dependent on a condition that wasn’t fulfilled in the past. It’s particularly useful for expressing regrets or imagining different outcomes to past events.

Examples with the Condizionale Passato

• Avrei voluto visitare Roma l’anno scorso, ma non ho avuto l’opportunità.
  (I would have liked to visit Rome last year, but I didn’t have the opportunity.)
  
• Avresti dovuto vedere la sua faccia quando ha scoperto la sorpresa!
  (You should have seen his face when he discovered the surprise!)
  
• Non avremmo mai immaginato che la situazione sarebbe diventata così complicata.
  (We would have never imagined that the situation would have become so complicated.)
  
• Senza il tuo aiuto, non sarei mai riuscito a finire il progetto in tempo.
  (Without your help, I would have never managed to finish the project on time.)
  
• I medici hanno detto che avrebbero potuto curarlo meglio con una diagnosi precoce.
  (The doctors said they would have been able to treat him better with an early diagnosis.)
  
• Avrei tanto voluto partecipare alla conferenza, ma avevo troppi impegni quella settimana.
  (I would have really wanted to participate in the conference, but I had too many commitments that week.)
  
• Chi avrebbe mai pensato che un giorno saremmo diventati soci in affari?
  (Who would have ever thought that one day we would have become business partners?)
  
• Saresti stata più felice se avessi accettato quel lavoro a Parigi?
  (Would you have been happier if you had accepted that job in Paris?)
  
• Non avrei mai creduto di poter correre una maratona, eppure ce l’ho fatta!
  (I would have never believed I could run a marathon, yet I did it!)
  
• Avreste preferito un regalo diverso per il vostro anniversario?
  (Would you have preferred a different gift for your anniversary?)

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Advanced Uses of the Conditional in Italian

In this chapter, we delve into more nuanced and formal uses of the condizionale, focusing on its role in expressing uncertainty, politeness, and the “future in the past.” Understanding these uses will allow you to communicate with more sophistication and precision in Italian.

Expressing Uncertainty and Indirect Speech

In formal contexts, such as journalism or official reports, the condizionale expresses uncertainty or hearsay, distancing the speaker from the information. It allows for reporting facts that are not fully confirmed, making statements more speculative.

• Si dice che sarebbe partito ieri. (It is said that he left yesterday.)
• Il presidente avrebbe confermato la visita. (The president is said to have confirmed the visit.)

This construction is vital in journalism or formal discussions, where certainty is elusive. The speaker creates room for doubt while avoiding direct statements.

Courtesy in Questions and Invitations

The condizionale is frequently used in Italian to soften requests, invitations, or suggestions. It’s a key component of politeness strategies, ensuring you sound respectful and considerate when asking for something or proposing an idea.

• Ti piacerebbe venire al cinema? (Would you like to go to the movies?)
• Vorresti aiutarmi con questo lavoro? (Would you like to help me with this task?)
• Potrebbe dirmi l’ora, per favore? (Could you tell me the time, please?)

This use of the condizionale allows for a softer, more courteous tone in social interactions, making your requests sound less demanding.

It’s important to note that in colloquial Italian, speakers often use the imperfetto (imperfect tense) instead of the condizionale passato in certain contexts, particularly in informal speech. This usage adds a sense of immediacy or certainty to the hypothetical situation. For example:

• Se lo sapevo, venivo prima. (If I had known, I would have come earlier.)
  Instead of: Se l’avessi saputo, sarei venuto prima.
• Se partivi subito, arrivavi in tempo. (If you had left immediately, you would have arrived on time.)
  Instead of: Se fossi partito subito, saresti arrivato in tempo.

While this use of the imperfetto is common in spoken Italian, it’s generally considered less formal and is not recommended in written or formal contexts.

The “Future in the Past”

The condizionale passato is essential for expressing the “future in the past,” a structure used to describe events that were expected to happen in the future, from the perspective of a past moment. This is key in storytelling or recounting past expectations. In these cases, the condizionale passato is the preferred form, even in colloquial speech:

• Pensavo che sarebbe arrivato alle otto. (I thought he would arrive at eight.)
• Sapevano che avrebbero dovuto lavorare tutto il giorno. (They knew they would have to work all day.)
• Ci avevano detto che avrebbero preparato la cena. (They had told us they would prepare dinner.)

This construction helps blend past and future perspectives, providing more depth and clarity to your narrative. Unlike the previous examples, the use of imperfetto instead of condizionale passato is less common in these “future in the past” scenarios, as it could lead to ambiguity or misunderstanding.

Understanding both the formal use of the condizionale passato and its colloquial alternatives will help you navigate various linguistic contexts in Italian, from formal writing to casual conversations.

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Listening Task

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