Expressing a wish with the conditional in French

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Expressing a wish with the conditional

To express a wish, we use verbs such as vouloir, aimer, and adorer in the present conditional. We also use expressions such as ça me ferait plaisir (it would please me) or ce serait bien (it would be good), which also use verbs (faire and être) in the conditional.
Je voudrais de l'eau, s'il te plaît. I would like some water, please.
Nous aimerions aller au cinéma. We would like to go to the cinema.
Ce serait génial de partir en vacances. That would be great to go on vacation.
J'irais bien à Paris ! I would love to go to Paris!
The conditional present is quite easy to form. We just add the following endings to the infinitive form of the verb: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
aimer en
J'aimerais
Tu aimerais
Il aimerait/elle aimerait
Nous aimerions
Vous aimeriez
Ils aimeraient/elles aimeraient
préférer en
Je préférerais
Tu préférerais
Il préférerait/elle préférerait
Nous préférerions
Vous préféreriez
Ils préféreraient/elles préféreraient
As ever, there are irregular verbs (about 20 main verbs) which have irregular stems and keep the same endings as above. For example, the verbs vouloir, être, aller are conjugated like this:
vouloir en
Je voudrais
Tu voudrais
Il voudrait/elle voudrait
Nous voudrions
Vous voudriez
Ils voudraient/elles voudraient
être en
Je serais
Tu serais
Il serait/elle serait
Nous serions
Vous seriez
Ils seraient/elles seraient
aller en
J'irais
Tu irais
Il irait/elle irait
Nous irions
Vous iriez
Ils iraient/elles iraient

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