Conditional with "pouvoir" - possibility

This grammar point changes how you express ability. In the present tense, pouvoir is about facts. "I can swim" is a fact. In the conditional, pouvoir is about possibilities or polite vibes. You are moving from the world of "is" to the world of "might." It works by taking a specific stem and adding special endings. These endings are the same for almost all verbs in the conditional. So, once you learn them here, you are halfway to mastering other verbs too. It acts like a social lubricant. It smooths over requests so you don't sound like you are giving orders. It is like a grammar traffic light. The present tense is a bright green "GO." The conditional is a soft yellow "Proceed with care."

1. 1To build this, you need two parts: the stem and the ending.
2. 2Start with the special stem for pouvoir. That stem is pourr-. Notice the double 'r'. It is very important for the sound.
3. 3Pick your subject (I, you, we, etc.).
4. 4Add the conditional endings to the stem pourr-.
5. 5Here are the endings you need to memorize:
6. 6For je (I), add -ais: je pourrais
7. 7For tu (you), add -ais: tu pourrais
8. 8For il/elle/on (he/she/one), add -ait: il pourrait
9. 9For nous (we), add -ions: nous pourrions
10. 10For vous (you plural/formal), add -iez: vous pourriez
11. 11For ils/elles (they), add -aient: ils pourraient
12. 12Yes, the first three sound exactly the same when spoken. French loves to keep you on your toes like that. Just remember the double 'r' is the secret sauce.

You will use pourrais in three main real-world scenarios. First, use it for polite requests. When ordering food, say Je pourrais avoir un café ?. It sounds much nicer than Je peux. Second, use it for suggestions. If a friend is bored, say On pourrait aller au cinéma. It sounds like an invitation, not a command. Third, use it for hypothetical situations. Use it when dreaming about the future. "I could live in Marseille one day" becomes Je pourrais habiter à Marseille. It is perfect for job interviews too. You might say Je pourrais aider votre équipe. It shows you are helpful but humble. Use it whenever you want to sound thoughtful.

Don't use the conditional for things that are 100% true right now. If you are currently holding a book, say Je peux lire. Don't say Je pourrais lire unless there is a "but" coming. Also, avoid it for physical abilities in the moment. If you are strong enough to lift a box, use the present tense. Using the conditional here makes it sound like you aren't sure of your own strength. It is also not for certain future plans. If you already bought tickets for a flight, use the future tense. The conditional is for the "maybe" pile, not the "definitely" pile. Don't over-soften everything or you might sound indecisive.

The biggest trap is the double 'r'. Many people forget it and use the future stem. The future of pouvoir also uses pourr-, but the endings are different. Another mistake is using the present tense endings with the conditional stem. Je pourrai (future) sounds very similar to Je pourrais (conditional). The 's' at the end of pourrais is silent, but it matters for writing. Also, watch out for the nous and vous forms. People often forget the 'i' in -ions and -iez. Without that 'i', you are just speaking in the present tense. Even native speakers mess this up in text messages sometimes. Just take it slow and check your spelling.

You might wonder about vouloir (to want). Je voudrais (I would like) and Je pourrais (I could) are cousins. Use voudrais when you want something specific. Use pourrais when you are asking if something is possible. It is the difference between "I want a cookie" and "Could I have a cookie?". Another contrast is with the present tense je peux. Je peux is a direct question of ability. Je pourrais is a gentle inquiry. Think of je peux as a text message and je pourrais as a handwritten note. Both get the message across, but one has more style.