French grammar - Polite requests and wishes - Le conditionnel présent of vouloir and aimer |
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In French, we use the conditional mood to make polite requests and to express wishes. • The verb vouloir can be softened and made more indirect by using it in the conditional mood - so rather than je veux ('I want') we can use je voudrais ('I would like'). • The verb aimer in the conditional can be used to express a wish or desire - j'aimerais ('I would like'). Both of these are in effect 'if…then' conditionals but with the 'if possible…' omitted. |
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Demain, j'aimerais aller au restaurant.
Tomorrow I would like to go to a restaurant. |
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Il ne voudrait pas m'aider à préparer le dîner par hasard ?
He wouldn't want to help me cook dinner by any chance? |
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On pourrait peut-être aller au cinéma ?
Maybe we could go to the cinema? |
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Voudrais-tu de l'eau ?
Would you (familiar) like some water? |
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Jacques aimerait être en vacances.
Jacques would like to be on vacation. |
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J'aimerais partir à midi.
I would like to leave at noon. |
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Aimeriez-vous manger avec nous ?
Would you (formal) like to eat with us? |
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Voudriez-vous venir chez nous demain ?
Would you (formal) like to come to us tomorrow? |
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Aimeriez-vous commander un apéritif pour commencer ?
Would you (formal) like to order an aperitif to start? |
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Je voudrais une salade verte, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a green salad, please. |
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J'aimerais acheter une nouvelle maison.
I would like to buy a new house. |
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Elle voudrait commencer son nouveau travail demain.
She would like to start her new job tomorrow. |
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Vous auriez du feu, s'il vous plaît ?
Do you (formal) have a light, please?
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The verb 