While many Spanish verbs follow the regular pattern in the conditional tense, some verbs use irregular stems. These verbs keep the same conditional endings but change the base of the verb. In this module, you will learn how to recognize and use several important irregular verbs in the conditional tense.
Irregular conditional verbs change their stem but keep the same conditional endings.
Example:
tener → tendría
Example Sentences
Yo tendría más tiempo el próximo mes. – I would have more time next month.
Ella vendría a la reunión. – She would come to the meeting.
Nosotros podríamos terminar el proyecto. – We would be able to finish the project.
Él pondría los documentos en la mesa. – He would put the documents on the table.
Ellos dirían la verdad. – They would tell the truth.
Several verbs form the conditional tense using a -dr- stem.
Examples include tener, poner, and salir.
Example Sentences
Yo tendría una reunión mañana. – I would have a meeting tomorrow.
Ella pondría el informe en la carpeta. – She would place the report in the folder.
Nosotros saldríamos temprano. – We would leave early.
Él vendría al evento esta noche. – He would come to the event tonight.
Ellos dirían la respuesta correcta. – They would say the correct answer.
Some verbs shorten their stems before adding conditional endings.
Examples include hacer, decir, and poder.
Example Sentences
Yo haría la tarea esta noche. – I would do the homework tonight.
Ella diría la verdad en la reunión. – She would tell the truth in the meeting.
Nosotros podríamos terminar el trabajo mañana. – We would be able to finish the work tomorrow.
Él sabría la respuesta pronto. – He would know the answer soon.
Ellos querrían participar en el proyecto. – They would want to participate in the project.
These verbs appear frequently when discussing possibilities or hypothetical situations.
Example Sentences
Yo tendría más oportunidades en otro país. – I would have more opportunities in another country.
Ella vendría a visitarnos este verano. – She would come to visit us this summer.
Nosotros podríamos viajar el próximo año. – We would be able to travel next year.
Él pondría más atención en la reunión. – He would pay more attention in the meeting.
Ellos dirían la verdad si fuera necesario. – They would tell the truth if it were necessary.
Learning these irregular stems helps you recognize the conditional tense in conversations and written Spanish.
Example Sentences
Yo sabría la respuesta con más tiempo. – I would know the answer with more time.
Ella querría vivir cerca del mar. – She would want to live near the sea.
Nosotros haríamos el viaje juntos. – We would make the trip together.
Él vendría mañana si pudiera. – He would come tomorrow if he could.
Ellos tendrían más éxito con práctica. – They would have more success with practice.
In this module, you learned that some verbs use irregular stems in the conditional tense while still keeping the same conditional endings. Verbs such as tener, venir, decir, hacer, poder, and saber are commonly used in Spanish conversations. Recognizing these irregular forms will help you express possibilities and hypothetical situations more clearly.