Inversion in conditional

nicole r.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Inversion in conditional

Hi

I have a question I'm learning about the inversion in the conditional present and I was wondering about these two sentences?

Why do you not conjugate passer? 

(Could we) passer Chez vous après le spectacle? Pourrions- nous is the answer


But with this sentence

(Would he) signer cette pétition? Signerait- il would be the answer 

I'm very confused and help would be greatly appreciated


Thanks

Nicole

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Nicole,

I think I can see your problem here and it is not the inversion of subject and verb.

Could = verb pouvoir in the conditional 

Would = any verb in the conditional 

Pourriez-vous me passer le sel SVP ? = Could you pass me the salt, please

Me passeriez-vous le sel SVP ? Would you pass me the salt, please?

Pourrais-tu me donner l'adresse de Marie ? Could you give Marie's address?

Me donnerais-tu l'adresse de Marie ? Would you give me Marie's address? 

Hope this helps!

 

nicole r.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Oh my God Cecile thank you so much it definitely explains a lot more now thank you again!!

nicole r. asked:

Inversion in conditional

Hi

I have a question I'm learning about the inversion in the conditional present and I was wondering about these two sentences?

Why do you not conjugate passer? 

(Could we) passer Chez vous après le spectacle? Pourrions- nous is the answer


But with this sentence

(Would he) signer cette pétition? Signerait- il would be the answer 

I'm very confused and help would be greatly appreciated


Thanks

Nicole

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