Answer Question
Let's Learn "The Past Conditional Tense" !
Ciao a tutti!
If you're coming here, you have probably recently learned "The Present Conditional" from my previous post. As you learned, "The Present Conditional" expresses possible or hypothetical actions/states; express actions that would occur in the present if not for conditions that prevent them from occurring; and to make polite requests and wishes. Translated into English, this tense means "Would + verb" such as "Andrei in vacanza" (I Would go on vacation) or "Vorrei sapere" (I would like to know) or "Gli Lei parlerebbe" (You would speak to him).
It should come as no surprise that the conditional tense also has a past form...and if you have the present conditional mastered, the past is even easier!
WHAT IS THE PAST CONDITIONAL TENSE?
Translated, the past comes across as "Would have + verb" in English. Luckily, the past conditional is formed with the present conditional of essere or avere, followed by the past participle. Let's not forget, verbs that take essere in the past must agree in number and gender..but if you're an intermediate or advanced student in Italian, it' hard to forget that rule!
This tense also helps strengthen your knowledge of the Present Conditional because it helps one remember the irregulars of Avere (avr) and Essere (sar).
HOW TO FORM THE PAST CONDITIONAL TENSE?
I will give you two examples (a verb that uses avere and a verb that uses essere; this is a very easy tense to learn you may just be shocked!)
Remember: Present Conditional Conjugation + Past Participle
io Avrei Parlato
tu Avresti Parlato
lui/lei Avrebbe Parlato
Lei Avrebbe Parlato
noi Avremmo Parlato
voi Avreste Parlato
loro Avrebbero Parlato
io Sarei Arrivato/a
tu Saresti Arrivato/a
lui Sarebbe Arrivato
lei Sarebbe Arrivata
Lei Sarebbe Arrivato/a
noi saremmo arrivati/e
voi sareste arrivati/e
loro sarebbero arrivati/e
That's it! Che facile!
WHEN TO USE THIS TENSE ?
As I previously stated, this tense translates as "Would have + verb". This tense is also used to express a future action from the point of view of the past.
EXAMPLES OF THIS TENSE
Ti avrei telefonato ma sono in anticipo. (I would have telephoned you but I was early.)
Ha detto che sarebbe arrivato tardi. (He said that he would arrive late.)
Sarei andata. (I would have gone (fem)).
USING THIS TENSE WITH DOVERE/POTERE/VOLERE
No surprise that dovere, potere,and volere have a slight difference. These verbs in this tense come across as "should have", "could have", and "would have". They are all followed by a main verb in the infinitive and that main verb determines the auxiliary to use. Remember rules associated with essere (#,gender).
To make it clearer, see these examples below:
Avrebbe dovuto chiamare. (You should have called.)
Saremmo dovuti restare. (We should have stayed.)
Avrebbero potute venire. (They(f) could have came.)
Sarebbe voluta arrivare. (She would have arrived.)
Using dovere, potere, and volere may take some more practice than the regular translations in this tense but as one can see, it's not as bad!
THAT'S IT FOR NOW !
IN BOCCA AL LUPO (BREAK A LEG!/GOOD LUCK!)
If you're coming here, you have probably recently learned "The Present Conditional" from my previous post. As you learned, "The Present Conditional" expresses possible or hypothetical actions/states; express actions that would occur in the present if not for conditions that prevent them from occurring; and to make polite requests and wishes. Translated into English, this tense means "Would + verb" such as "Andrei in vacanza" (I Would go on vacation) or "Vorrei sapere" (I would like to know) or "Gli Lei parlerebbe" (You would speak to him).
It should come as no surprise that the conditional tense also has a past form...and if you have the present conditional mastered, the past is even easier!
WHAT IS THE PAST CONDITIONAL TENSE?
Translated, the past comes across as "Would have + verb" in English. Luckily, the past conditional is formed with the present conditional of essere or avere, followed by the past participle. Let's not forget, verbs that take essere in the past must agree in number and gender..but if you're an intermediate or advanced student in Italian, it' hard to forget that rule!
This tense also helps strengthen your knowledge of the Present Conditional because it helps one remember the irregulars of Avere (avr) and Essere (sar).
HOW TO FORM THE PAST CONDITIONAL TENSE?
I will give you two examples (a verb that uses avere and a verb that uses essere; this is a very easy tense to learn you may just be shocked!)
Remember: Present Conditional Conjugation + Past Participle
io Avrei Parlato
tu Avresti Parlato
lui/lei Avrebbe Parlato
Lei Avrebbe Parlato
noi Avremmo Parlato
voi Avreste Parlato
loro Avrebbero Parlato
io Sarei Arrivato/a
tu Saresti Arrivato/a
lui Sarebbe Arrivato
lei Sarebbe Arrivata
Lei Sarebbe Arrivato/a
noi saremmo arrivati/e
voi sareste arrivati/e
loro sarebbero arrivati/e
That's it! Che facile!
WHEN TO USE THIS TENSE ?
As I previously stated, this tense translates as "Would have + verb". This tense is also used to express a future action from the point of view of the past.
EXAMPLES OF THIS TENSE
Ti avrei telefonato ma sono in anticipo. (I would have telephoned you but I was early.)
Ha detto che sarebbe arrivato tardi. (He said that he would arrive late.)
Sarei andata. (I would have gone (fem)).
USING THIS TENSE WITH DOVERE/POTERE/VOLERE
No surprise that dovere, potere,and volere have a slight difference. These verbs in this tense come across as "should have", "could have", and "would have". They are all followed by a main verb in the infinitive and that main verb determines the auxiliary to use. Remember rules associated with essere (#,gender).
To make it clearer, see these examples below:
Avrebbe dovuto chiamare. (You should have called.)
Saremmo dovuti restare. (We should have stayed.)
Avrebbero potute venire. (They(f) could have came.)
Sarebbe voluta arrivare. (She would have arrived.)
Using dovere, potere, and volere may take some more practice than the regular translations in this tense but as one can see, it's not as bad!
THAT'S IT FOR NOW !
IN BOCCA AL LUPO (BREAK A LEG!/GOOD LUCK!)