Russian grammar - Requests, desires and advice with бы

Requests, desires and advice with бы

The particle бы can be used with the past tense form of a verb to form requests, express wishes or desires and to give advice.

• forming requests this way softens the request.

• expressing wishes or desires with бы gives the sense of the hypothetical or possibility.

• proffering advice this way give the sense of 'would be good if…'.

Although this form sounds like a past hypothetical ('I would have liked to') it is used to request or advise future action.

Examples:
	Я бы хотела купить это платье. Оно мне нравится. I (female) would like to buy this dress. I like it. Desired action хотеть is imperfective
	Я бы выучила русский язык, он красивый. I (female) would learn Russian, it’s beautiful. Desired action выучить is perfective
	Я хотел бы стакан воды. I (male) would like a glass of water. Polite request хотеть is imperfective
	Ты мог бы мне помочь? Could you (informal) (male) help me? Polite request мочь is imperfective
	Не могли бы вы принести мне эту книгу? Could you (formal) bring me this book? Polite request мочь is imperfective
	Сходил бы ты к врачу. You’d (informal) (male) better see your doctor. Suggestion or advice сходить is perfective сходить means 'to go and come back' and 'to come down'
	Надел бы ты тёплую куртку. Очень холодно. You (informal) (male) should have put on a warm jacket. It’s cold. Suggestion or advice надеть is perfective
	Вы бы не облокачивались на дверь, она может открыться. You (formal) should not lean on the door, it can open. Suggestion or advice облокачиваться is imperfective
	Ты лучше бы делал уроки на завтра в школу. Иначе учитель поставит тебе плохую оценку. You (informal) (male) better do your homework for school tomorrow. Otherwise, the teacher will give you a bad grade. Suggestion or advice делать is imperfective
	Вы бы поспали немного после дороги. You (formal) should have slept a little after the trip. Suggestion or advice поспать is perfective
	Вы бы отдохнули немного. You (formal) should have rested for a while. Suggestion or advice отдохнуть is perfective
	Если бы у нас была возможность, мы бы научились летать. If we had the chance, we would learn to fly. Desired action научиться is perfective
	Не могли бы вы показать нам дорогу к почте? Could you (formal) show us the way to the post office? Polite request мочь is imperfective