It uses the same irregular stem as in Futur Simple : pourr-
Je pourrais certainement obtenir un rendez-vous.
I could certainly get an appointment.
Pourrais-tu me passer le sel?
Could you pass me the salt?
Il pourrait aller à l'université s'il le voulait.
He could go to university if he wanted to.
Nous pourrions manger chinois pour changer.
We could eat Chinese for a change.
Pourriez-vous l'épeler pour moi, s'il-vous-plaît?
Could you spell it for me, please?
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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?
Q&A
Chris
Kwiziq community member
25/09/18
All modal verbs like, pouvoir or devoir require the infinitive, no matter which tense or mode they are in.
Je peux t'appeler. / Je pourrais t'appeler.
Graham
Kwiziq community member
25/09/18
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
13/01/17
Kevin
Kwiziq community member
13/01/17
Damien
Kwiziq community member
3 October 2018
1 reply
Futur simple Vs conditionnel present
The tip says to decide between je form for future simple and conditionnel present for pouvoir by comparing 'i will have to' with 'i could'. I thought 'i will have to' is 'je devrais' and future simple for pouvoir would translate to 'i will be able to'
Chris
Kwiziq community member
3 October 2018
3/10/18
You are correct, Damien:
Je devrai ranger ma chambre. -- I will have to clean up my room.
Je pourrai ranger ma chambre. -- I will be able to clean up my room.
Je devrais ranger ma chambre. -- I should clean up my room.
Je pourrais ranger ma chambre. -- I would be able to clean up my room.
P.S.: Note the addidional "-s" in the conditional.