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During which 3 circumstances is the conditional not used as "would" is in English?
1. To express speculation about the past.
2. Where the conditional poder is translated as "could".
3. When it refers to a past repeated action. Imperfect is used.
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Después de trabajar, tendrían hambre.
After working, they probably were hungry.
speculation about the past
Another possible translation is "After working, they must have been hungry." (A "would" translation is also possible: "After working, they would have been hungry.")
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¿Dónde estuvo Jorge? Estaría en casa.
Where was George? He must have been at home.
Speculation about the Past
Another possible translation is "Where was George? I wonder if he was at home." (A "would" translation is also possible: "He would have been at home.")
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Si tuviera dinero, podría ir al cine
If I had money, I could go to the movies.
poder is translated as could
(This is a use of the conditional based on a condition. It also could be translated as "If I had the money, I would be able to go to the movies.)
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Podrían salir mañana.
They could leave tomorrow.
Here the condition is unstated. The sentence also could be translated as "They would be able to leave tomorrow.")
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¿Podría tener un lápiz?
Could I have a pencil? Or, "would I be able to have a pencil?"
Poder is translated as could
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Cuando era niño, íbamos al cine.
When I was a boy, we would go to the movies.
Imperfect is used instead of conditional.
(This is the same as saying "we used to go to the movies" or "we went to the movies." Going to the movies isn't a hypothetical action.)
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Mi hijo jugaba con cuidado.
My son would play carefully.
Imperfect is used instead of conditional.
(This is the same as saying, "My son used to play carefully.")
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