UNIT TWENTY-THREE
The present conditional
Use of the present conditional
1 The present conditional expresses an action which depends on a condition,
as in this English example: ‘If I could, I would go at once.’ In this example, the
condition is expressed with ‘if’ (i.e. ‘on condition that’). The present con-
ditional is often used even when the condition is not actually mentioned, as
in: ‘I’m sure she would love a night out.’ Basically, the use of the Italian
present conditional is similar to the English:
The present conditional in Italian can express wishes or intentions, opinions
or advice, requests in polite form, doubts and conjectures:
The forms of the present conditional
2 The present conditional is formed in the same way as the future, but with
different endings:
Vorrei ballare tutta la sera.
Mi daresti un passaggio?
Fareste meglio restare a casa.I would like to dance all night.
Would you give me a lift?
Yo u’d do better to stay at home.Prenderei un caffè.
Potreste andare a piedi.
Mi daresti una mano?
Sapresti fare questo lavoro?
Questa potrebbe essere la soluzione.I’d like a coffee.
You could go on foot.
Would/could you give me a hand?
Would you know how to do that job?
This could be the solution.