Giáo trình động từ tiếng Pháp - Part IV Looking Ahead: The Future and the Conditional Tenses - Chapter 18 pdf

Chapter 18
Trying the Past Conditional Tense:
Could Have and Would Have
In This Chapter
ᮣ Forming the past conditional tense
ᮣ Using the past conditional
Y
ou use the past conditional tense in all those situations when you could just kick your-
self because you should have said this or should have done that. For example, you may
say
I should have locked the door when a thief takes your car stereo or I should not have
locked the door
when you lock your keys inside your car. You may tell your friend you should
have gone out with him
or you may say she shouldn’t have said that if you’re trying to make
someone feel better. In all those instances, you’re using the past conditional tense.
The past conditional often expresses a missed opportunity in the past, an uncertainty, or a
regret. For example,
Elle aurait voulu voyager mais elle n’avait pas assez d’argent means She
would have liked to travel but she didn’t have enough money.
In English, the past conditional is
translated as
would have done something. Furthermore, in English it’s used to express what
would have or would not have occurred if something had happened or had not happened.
In this chapter, I show you how to form the past conditional tense and then how to use it. I
offer plenty of exercises so that you can practice these concepts.
Creating the Past Conditional
You form the past conditional by putting the auxiliaries avoir (to have) and être (to be) in
the conditional tense and adding the past participle of the verbs. Check out the following
tables that conjugate the auxiliaries in the conditional form.
avoir (

to have
)
j’aurais nous aurions
tu aurais vous auriez
il/elle/on aurait ils/elles auraient
être (
to be
)
je serais nous serions
tu serais vous seriez
il/elle/on serait ils/elles seraient
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The verbs étudier (to study) and partir (to leave) serve as examples of the two types of
auxiliaries:
avoir and être. Étudier takes the auxiliary avoir, and partir takes être. The
past participle of verbs taking
être as their auxiliary agrees with the subject. Therefore,
if the subject is feminine singular, add an
e, if it’s masculine plural, add an s, and if it’s
feminine plural, add an
es. If you aren’t sure about the past participle of verbs, look at
Chapter 12.
étudier (
to study
)
j’aurais étudié nous aurions étudié
tu aurais étudié vous auriez étudié
il/elle/on aurait étudié ils/elles auraient étudié

Elle aurait étudié. (
She would have studied.
)
partir (
to leave
)
je serais parti(e) nous serions partis(es)
tu serais parti(e) vous seriez parti(e)(s)(es)
il/elle/on serait parti(e) ils/elles seraient partis(es)
Nous serions partis. (
We would have left.
)
Nous aurions voulu vous aider. (We would have liked to help you.)
Ils seraient arrivés. (They would have arrived.)
For pronominal verbs, place the pronominal pronoun in front of the auxiliary être,
which is followed by the past participle of the verb. Remember that all pronominal
verbs are conjugated with the auxiliary
être, which is conjugated in the conditional.
se lever (
to get up
)
je me serais levé(e) nous nous serions levés(es)
tu te serais levé(e) vous vous seriez levé(e)(s)(es)
il/elle/on se serait levé(e) ils/elles se seraient levés(es)
Vous vous seriez levés. (
You would have gotten up.
)
To make the past conditional negative, place ne in front of the auxiliary and pas after
the auxiliary. For pronominal verbs, place
ne in front of the pronominal pronoun

and the
pas after the auxiliary.
Je n’aurais pas fini. (I would not have finished.)
Benjamin ne se serait pas réveillé. (Benjamin would not have woken up.)
To ask a question using inversion with past tenses, you simply invert the subject and
the auxiliary.
Serions-nous arrivés à l’heure? (Would we have arrived on time?)
Te serais-tu amusé? (Would you have had fun?)
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Now it’s your turn. Put the verbs in parentheses in the past conditional.
Q. Corinne _________________ (devoir) téléphoner.
A. Corinne aurait dû téléphoner. (Corinne should have called.)
1. Antoine _________________ (payer) par chèque.
2. Vous _________________ (préférer) partir tôt.
3. Mélanie et Alexandre _________________ (se souvenir) de leur jeunesse.
4. Tu _________________ (rester) toute la journée.
5. Sarah _________________ (pouvoir) te présenter à ses amis.
6. Je _________________ (apprendre) le russe.
7. Étienne _________________ (recevoir) la médaille.
8. Nous _________________ (se voir).
9. Les parents de Sophie _________________ (être) déçus.
10. Aurore _________________ (aimer) les rencontrer au café.
Correctly Using the Past Conditional
The past conditional expresses a missed opportunity or a regret. You can use the past
conditional in a simple sentence or in a more complex sentence with two or more
clauses. For example, you can say
J’aurais dû étudier plus (I should have studied
more
), or you can say Si j’avais eu temps, j’aurais étudié plus (If I had had the time,
I would have studied more

).
Before you correctly use the past conditional in a complex sentence, you need to
understand how you use it in a hypothetical sentence. A
hypothetical sentence
expresses a supposition, a condition, or a possibility introduced by the conjunction if
or si. A hypothetical sentence has two clauses — a subordinate clause introduced by
si and a result clause or a main clause. The tenses of these clauses vary depending on
which hypothetical sentence you use. Here’s what you need to know about the three
hypothetical sentences:
ߜ In the first hypothetical sentence, you use the present after si, and you can use
the present, the immediate future, the simple future, or even the imperative form
in the result clause. Use the tense that makes the most sense for what you want
to say.
ߜ In the second hypothetical sentence, you use the imperfect after si, and you use
the present conditional in the result clause. (See Chapter 17.)
ߜ In the third hypothetical sentence, you use the pluperfect after si, and you use
the past conditional in the result clause. This sentence is the most common use of
the past conditional. If the
si clause uses the pluperfect (see Chapter 12 for more
on forming the pluperfect), then you use the past conditional in the result clause.
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Table 18-1 puts the hypothetical sentences all together.
Table 18-1 Hypothetical Sentences
Tense in the If or Subordinate Tense in the Result or Main
Si Clause Clause Result Clause Clause
Present S’il pleut . . . Present . . . je porte un
If it rains . . .
imperméable.

. . .
I wear a
raincoat.
Present S’il pleut . . . Simple future . . . je porterai un
If it rains . . .
imperméable.
. . .
I will wear a
raincoat.
Present S’il pleut . . . Immediate future . . . je vais porter un
If it rains . . .
imperméable.
. . .
I am going to
wear a raincoat.
Present S’il pleut . . . Imperative . . . porte ton
If it rains . . .
imperméable.
. . .
wear your
raincoat.
Imperfect S’il pleuvait . . . Present conditional . . . je porterais un
If it were to rain . . .
imperméable.
. . .
I would wear
my raincoat.
Pluperfect S’il avait plu . . . Past conditional . . . J’aurais porté un
If it had rained . . .
imperméable.

. . .
I would have
worn my raincoat.
You may begin a sentence with the result clause, followed by the subordinate or si
clause. However, you can’t switch the tenses, which means that the present (except
for the first example sentence, in which both clauses can be in the present tense), the
imperfect, and the pluperfect are always placed in the
si clause and the future, condi-
tional, and past conditional are always placed in the result clause.
Si tu avais fini tes devoirs, tu serais allé jouer. (If you had finished your home-
work, you would have gone to play.
)
As with the other two hypothetical sentences, you may begin your sentence with the
result clause, followed by the
si clause. However, you can’t switch the tenses. In other
words, you always put the pluperfect in the
si clause and the past conditional in the
result clause.
Nous serions arrivés plus tôt s’il n’y avait pas eu d’embouteillages. (We would
have arrived earlier if there hadn’t been any traffic jams.
)
Fill in these hypothetical sentences. Remember to place the past conditional in the
result clause.
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Q. S’il n’avait pas plu, nous _________________ (aller) à la plage.
A. S’il n’avait pas plu, nous serions allés à la plage. (If it hadn’t rained, we would have gone
to the beach.
)

11. Si tu avais regardé la carte, tu _________________ (suivre) la bonne route.
12. S’il n’avait pas fait de vent, je _________________ (rester) à la plage.
13. Ils _________________ (ne pas aller) en classe, s’ils avaient su que le professeur était absent.
14. Je _________________ (se dépêcher) si j’avais été en retard.
15. Si Anne n’avait pas étudié, elle _________________ (ne pas réussir) à l’examen.
16. Est-ce que vous _________________ (être) moins fatigué si vous aviez travaillé plus près
de chez vous?
17. Nous _________________ (venir) si tu nous avais dit.
18. Si Sébastien s’était inscrit à ce cours, il _________________ (recevoir) trois unités de valeur.
19. Si tu t’étais levé tôt, tu _________________ (éviter) la circulation.
20. Les enfants _________________ (jouer) dehors s’il n’avait pas fait si froid.
I want to provide you with some more practice problems so that you have a firm
grasp on the three hypothetical sentences. In the following exercise, match the let-
tered logical result clause with the numbered
si clause by putting the correct letter
in each blank.
Q. Si vous n’étiez pas venu
A. g. Si vous n’étiez pas venu, vous auriez manqué une bonne soirée. (If you hadn’t come,
you would have missed a good party.
)
21. _____ Si tu avais pris des leçons de musique a. je me promènerais.
22. _____ Si on veut b. nous aurions rencontré tes parents.
23. _____ Si Audrey avait de la chance c. ils seraient arrivés dans une
demi heure.
24. _____ S’il faisait beau d. tu ne glisserais pas.
25. _____ Si j’ai le temps e. tu aurais joué beaucoup mieux.
26. _____ Si nous étions venus f. elle trouverait un appartement
pas trop cher.
27. _____ S’ils avaient pris le métro g. vous auriez manqué une bonne
soirée.

28. _____ Si tu marchais prudemment h. on peut.
29. _____ Si Caroline vient avec nous i. elle s’assiéra à côté de toi.
30. _____ Si vous étiez resté chez vous j. je viendrai avec vous.
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What? More practice? Yes, I want to make sure that you understand this concept.
In the following sentences, all three hypothetical sentences are included. In each
sentence, one of the verbs is filled in for you. It’s up to you to fill in the second verb.
Refer to Table 18-1 and conjugate the verbs in parentheses in the required tense.
Q. J’aurais fini mes devoirs, si je _________________ (commencer) plus tôt.
A. J’aurais fini mes devoirs, si j’avais commencé plus tôt. (I would have finished my home-
work if I had begun earlier.
)
31. Si Eric lisait le journal, il _________________ (savoir) ce qui se passait dans le monde.
32. Nous _________________ (pouvoir) voyager, si nous prenons notre retraite.
33. Si mes parents avaient habité plus près, je les _________________ (voir) plus souvent.
34. S’il faisait du vent, vous _________________ (ne pas aller) à la plage.
35. Si vous aviez été fatigués, vous _________________ (devoir) vous reposer.
36. Si tu étais malade, tu _________________ (prendre) des médicaments.
37. Les enfants _________________ (être) heureux s’ils gagnaient le match.
38. S’il avait eu des œufs, il _________________ (faire) une omelette.
39. Audrey _________________ (travailler), si elle finit ses études.
40. Si je gagnais à la loterie, je _________________ (faire) le tour du monde.
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Answer Key
This section provides the correct answers for all the problems in this chapter. Please
review and compare them to your answers.

a
Antoine aurait payé par chèque. (Antoine would have paid by check.)
b
Vous auriez préféré partir tôt. (You would have preferred to leave early.)
c
Mélanie et Alexandre se seraient souvenus de leur jeunesse. (Mélanie and Alexandre would
have remembered their youth.
)
d
Tu serais resté toute la journée. (You would have stayed the whole day.)
e
Sarah aurait pu te présenter à ses amis. (Sarah could have introduced you to her friends.)
f
J’aurais appris le russe. (I would have learned Russian.)
g
Étienne aurait reçu la médaille. (Étienne would have won the medal.)
h
Nous nous serions vus. (We would have seen each other.)
i
Les parents de Sophie auraient été déçus. (Sophie’s parents would have been disappointed.)
j
Aurore aurait aimé les rencontrer au café. (Aurore would have liked to meet them at the café.)
k
Si tu avais regardé la carte, tu aurais suivi la bonne route. (If you had looked at the map, you
would have followed the right route.
)
l
S’il n’avait pas fait de vent, je serais resté à la plage. (If it had not been windy, I would have
stayed at the beach.
)

m
Ils ne seraient pas allés en classe, s’ils avaient su que le professeur était absent. (They would
not have gone to class if they had known that the professor was absent.
)
n
Je me serais dépêché si j’avais été en retard. (I would have hurried if I had been late.)
o
Si Anne n’avait pas étudié, elle n’aurait pas réussi à l’examen. (If Anne had not studied, she
would not have passed the exam.
)
p
Est-ce que vous auriez été moins fatigué si vous aviez travaillé plus près de chez vous?
(
Would you have been less tired if you had worked closer to home?)
q
Nous serions venus si tu nous avais dit. (We would have come if you had told us.)
r
Si Sébastien s’était inscrit à ce cours, il aurait reçu trois unités de valeur. (If Sébastien had
registered for this course, he would have received three credits.
)
s
Si tu t’étais levé tôt, tu aurais évité la circulation. (If you had gotten up early, you would have
avoided the traffic.
)
t
Les enfants auraient joué dehors s’il n’avait pas fait si froid. (The children would have played
outside if it hadn’t been so cold.
)
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u
e. Si tu avais pris des leçons de musique, tu aurais joué beaucoup mieux. (If you had taken
music lessons, you would have played much better.
)
v
h. Si on veut, on peut. (If one wants, one can.)
w
f. Si Audrey avait de la chance, elle trouverait un appartement pas trop cher. (If Audrey were
lucky, she would find an apartment that’s not too expensive.
)
x
a. S’il faisait beau, je me promènerais. (If it were nice out, I would take a walk.)
y
j. Si j’ai le temps, je viendrai avec vous. (If I have time, I will come with you.)
A
b. Si nous étions venus, nous aurions rencontré tes parents. (If we had come, we would have
met your parents.
)
B
c. S’ils avaient pris le métro, ils seraient arrivés dans une demi heure. (If they had taken the
subway, they would have arrived in a half an hour.
)
C
d. Si tu marchais prudemment, tu ne glisserais pas. (If you were to walk carefully, you would
not slip.
)
D
i. Si Caroline vient avec nous, elle s’assiéra à côté de toi. (If Caroline comes with us, she will sit
next to you.

)
E
g. Si vous étiez resté chez vous, vous auriez manqué une bonne soirée. (If you had stayed home,
you would have missed a good party.
)
F
Si Eric lisait le journal, il saurait ce qui se passait dans le monde. (If Eric were to read the news-
paper, he would know what was happening in the world.
)
G
Nous pourrons voyager, si nous prenons notre retraite. (We will be able to travel if we take our
retirement.
)
H
Si mes parents avaient habité plus près, je les aurais vus plus souvent. (If my parents had lived
closer, I would have seen them more often.
)
I
S’il faisait du vent, vous n’iriez pas à la plage. (If it were windy, you would not go to the beach.)
J
Si vous aviez été fatigués, vous auriez dû vous reposer. (If you had been tired, you should have
rested.
)
K
Si tu étais malade, tu prendrais des médicaments. (If you were ill, you would take some
medication.
)
L
Les enfants seraient heureux s’ils gagnaient le match. (The children would be happy if they
were to win the game.

)
M
S’il avait eu des œufs, il aurait fait une omelette. (If he had had eggs, he would have made an
omelette.
)
N
Audrey travaillera, si elle finit ses études. (Audrey will work if she finishes her studies.)
O
Si je gagnais la loterie, je ferais le tour du monde. (If I were to win the lottery, I would travel all
over the world.
)
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