Le Conditionnel Présent of pouvoir (could):
It is based on the irregular future form of the verb: pourr-, to which we add the endings of the Imparfait: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Nous pourrions manger chinois pour changer.
We could eat Chinese for a change.
Il pourrait aller à l'université s'il le voulait.
He could go to university if he wanted to.
Pourrais-tu me passer le sel?
Could you pass me the salt?
Ils pourraient gagner cette année.
They could win this year.
Je pourrais certainement obtenir un rendez-vous.
I could certainly get an appointment.
Pourriez-vous l'épeler pour moi, s'il-vous-plaît?
Could you spell it for me, please?
Kevin
Kwiziq community member
10 January 2017
2 replies
Is the point of this lesson that the conditional of pouvoir is used to express possibility?
Is the point of this lesson that the conditional of pouvoir is used to express possibility? I don't grasp the difference between "pouvez-vous m'aider" and "pourriez-vous m'aider", or would you just not say the first one?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
13 January 2017
13/01/17
"Pouvez-vous m'aider ?" means "Can you help me?", whereas
"Pourriez-vous m'aider ?" means "Could you help me?"
Just like in English, both forms are correct, but the second one is more polite, as the use of the conditional makes it a bit less direct.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Kevin
Kwiziq community member
13 January 2017
13/01/17