Polite Requests and Suggestions

This grammar point works by changing the verb ending. It creates a hypothetical mood. You are not saying something is happening now. You are not saying it will definitely happen. You are saying it "would" happen if possible. This distance makes it polite. It removes the pressure from the other person. In Portuguese, we use this for requests and suggestions. It softens the blow of a suggestion. Instead of "You must go," you say "You should go." It feels like a suggestion, not an order. It is like a grammar volume knob. You are turning down the intensity of your speech. This helps you navigate social situations smoothly. Even native speakers rely on this daily. It is the secret sauce of social harmony.

1. 1Forming this tense is actually quite simple. It is much easier than the present tense. You do not need to drop the infinitive ending. You keep the whole verb as it is. Then, you just add the new endings. It is like putting a hat on a head. The head stays the same. Here is how you do it:
2. 2Start with the full infinitive verb. For example, use falar, comer, or partir.
3. 3Identify the subject of your sentence.
4. 4Add the specific conditional ending to the end of the infinitive.
5. 5Here are the endings for all regular verbs:
6. 6Eu: -ia (Eu falaria)
7. 7Você/Ele/Ela: -ia (Ela comeria)
8. 8Nós: -íamos (Nós partiríamos)
9. 9Vocês/Eles/Elas: -iam (Eles falariam)
10. 10Note that eu and ela use the same ending. This is a rare gift from the grammar gods. You only have three irregular verbs to worry about. They are the "rebel trio." They change their stems slightly before adding the endings. These are fazer (becomes far-), dizer (becomes dir-), and trazer (becomes trar-). So, you get faria, diria, and traria. That is it. No other surprises. It is a very predictable pattern.

You should use this in several key scenarios. First, use it for polite requests. If you need a favor, use poderia. "Could you help me?" sounds great as Você poderia me ajudar?. Second, use it for ordering food or drinks. Use gostaria instead of quero. It sounds much more elegant. Third, use it for giving advice or suggestions. The verb deveria is perfect for this. "You should study more" becomes Você deveria estudar mais. Fourth, use it in job interviews. It shows respect for the interviewer. Fifth, use it when asking for directions on the street. Strangers are more likely to help a polite person. Think of it as a social lubricant. It makes every interaction go faster. It also helps you avoid being the "rude tourist."

Do not use this with your best friends for small things. If you ask your brother for the remote using poderia, he might laugh. He might think you are being sarcastic. In very casual settings, the present tense is fine. Also, do not use this for past habits. Some languages use "would" for things they used to do. Portuguese uses the Pretérito Imperfeito for that. For example, "I would play soccer every day" is Eu jogava futebol. Do not say Eu jogaria futebol in that context. That would mean you would play it now if you could. Also, avoid overusing it in a single sentence. It can make you sound like a Victorian novel character. Use it for the main request. Then switch back to normal speech. Balance is key to sounding natural.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the r in the stem. People often say falia instead of falaria. Remember, the infinitive stays whole. If you lose the r, you are using a different tense. Another mistake is mixing up the nós form. It needs an accent on the í. It is falariamos, not falariamos. Without the accent, the rhythm is wrong. Some people also forget the irregulars. They try to say fazeria. This sounds like a toddler speaking. It is cute, but not B1 level. Just remember faria, diria, and traria. Also, watch out for the eu and você forms. Since they are the same, use the subject pronoun if it is unclear. Finally, do not confuse it with the future tense. Falarei is "I will speak." Falaria is "I would speak." One is a promise, the other is a possibility.

You might hear Brazilians use the Pretérito Imperfeito for requests. They might say Eu queria um café instead of Eu gostaria. This is very common in spoken Portuguese. It is like a shortcut. Both are polite, but gostaria is slightly more formal. Think of gostaria as a suit and queria as a nice polo shirt. Both are better than a t-shirt (the present tense). Another contrast is with the Imperativo. The imperative is for commands like "Open the door!" The conditional is for "Would you open the door?" Use the imperative for recipes or instructions. Use the conditional for people. It keeps your relationships healthy.