The Italian conditional mood can be challenging for foreign learners. Read this article to learn how to use it correctly.
Learning the Italian conditional mood is essential if you want to communicate effectively in any situation. Without this verb form, you risk misunderstandings or struggling to express yourself clearly.
One of the most common issues is sounding impolite.
Imagine you need to ask for information. Saying “Voglio un’informazione” (I want some information) and “Vorrei un’informazione” (I would like some information) convey entirely different tones—thanks to the Italian grammar conditional. But this is just one example of the many situations where you’ll need to use conditional sentences in Italian.
The goal of this article is to provide you with simple, practical tools to correctly use both the Italian conditional forms: simple and compound.
How is the Italian conditional mood formed?
First, it's important to know that the Italian conditional mood has two tenses: the present (or simple) conditional and the past (or compound) conditional.
The Italian conditional in its simple form is introduced at the A2 (elementary) level, starting with common verbs and everyday contexts. It follows the same rules as the simple future tense, including its exceptions, with the only difference being the verb endings.
To form the Italian grammar conditional in the present tense for regular verbs, take the infinitive form and replace the -ARE, -ERE, -IRE endings with the appropriate conjugations for each subject pronoun.
Let’s look at three examples—one for each verb group:
- Verbs ending in -ARE, such as “parlare” (to speak), become: io parlEREI – tu parlERESTI – lui/lei parlEREBBE – noi parlEREMMO – voi parlERESTE – loro parlEREBBERO.
- Verbs ending in -ERE, such as “credere” (to believe), become: io credEREI – tu credERESTI – lui/lei credEREBBE – noi credEREMMO – voi credERESTE – loro credEREBBERO.
- Verbs ending in -IRE, such as “dormire” (to sleep), become: io dormIREI – tu dormIRESTI – lui/lei dormIREBBE – noi dormIREMMO – voi dormIRESTE – loro dormIREBBERO.
As you can see, -ARE verbs change the final vowel "a" to "e", while -ERE and -IRE verbs retain the same root.
So far, so simple. However, many exceptions break this pattern, and some verbs are completely irregular, such as “essere” (to be) and “avere” (to have).
The best way to master conditional sentences in Italian and navigate these exceptions is to take an Italian course suited to your level, ensuring structured and effective learning.
When is the Italian conditional mood used?
In general, the Italian conditional mood is used to express actions or situations that could occur, provided that a specific condition is met.
This verb mood appears in various contexts in the Italian language.
To fully understand how to use conditional sentences in Italian, it’s important to distinguish between its two tenses: the present (simple) conditional and the past (compound) conditional.
The Italian conditional in its simple form is used for hypothetical situations, desires, polite requests, uncertain information, and giving advice.
The compound conditional is used for hypothetical or unfulfilled actions in the past.
Let’s look at some examples of Italian grammar conditional usage:
- Simple conditional: “Avrei bisogno di un’informazione” (I would need some information); “Mi piacerebbe visitare l’Italia” (I would love to visit Italy); “Dovresti studiare di più” (“You should study more”); “Se avessi tempo, viaggerei di più” (If I had time, I would travel more).
- Compound conditional: “Avrei voluto imparare l’italiano” (I would have liked to learn Italian); “Se avessi studiato di più, avresti superato l’esame” (If you had studied more, you would have passed the exam); “Se fossi partita prima, non avresti perso il pullman” (If you had left earlier, you wouldn’t have missed the bus)
One of the most common difficulties learners face is confusing the Italian conditional mood with the future tense or, more frequently, with the subjunctive mood. For instance, a classic mistake is saying "Se avrei" instead of the correct "Se avessi".
Another challenge is forming the Italian conditional with irregular verbs, as Italian has many. For example, following the standard rule, you might mistakenly say "io tenerei" instead of the correct form "io terrei".
Where to learn conditional sentences in Italian
As we've seen, forming conditional sentences in Italian can be challenging due to the many exceptions that characterize the Italian language.
If you have the opportunity, taking an Italian course in Italy is the best option. It allows you to experience real-life situations where the Italian conditional mood is naturally applied, helping you grasp its many nuances.
A more accessible alternative is choosing an online course—provided that it is taught by qualified instructors and delivered via live streaming, ensuring the necessary interaction for effective learning.
No matter which learning method best suits your needs, Centro Studi Italiani is the perfect choice.
We offer both in-person and online courses, available in group or one-on-one formats, designed to match your specific learning goals. Every course is structured according to the student’s starting level and objectives, ensuring a tailored learning experience.
With our programs, you’ll learn to use the learn Italian conditional in both written and spoken form, applying it naturally in real-life situations where it matters most.
