Conditional mood

The conditional mood is formed from the past tense form of the verb by adding the particle бы. The particle and the verb are written as separate words. As in the past tense, verbs in the conditional change for number and in the singular for gender as well.

 

Imperfective

я,  ты, он изучал бы

I, you, he should study

I, you, he should have studied

 

она изучала бы

she should study

she should have studied

 

оно изучало бы

it should study

it should should have studied

 

мы, вы, они изучали бы

we, you should study

we, you should should have studied

 

Perfective

я, ты, он изучил бы

I, you, he   should study

I, you, he should have studied

 

она изучила бы

she   should study

she should have studied

 

оно изучило бы

it should study

it should have studied

 

мы, вы изучили бы

we, you should study

we, you should have studied

 

Я делал бы ...

I should/would do OR I should/would have done …

Я сделал бы ...

I should/would do OR I should/would have done …

 

The meaning and use of the conditional mood

1. The conditional mood expresses an action which may take place under certain circumstances.

 

Я делал бы домашнее задание если бы У меня было время....

I would do the homework if I had time.

I would have done the homework if I had time.

                                                                                            

Я cделал бы домашнее задание если бы У меня было время....

I would do the homework if I had time.

I would have done the homework if I had time.

 

2. The conditional mood also expresses an action which is desired or planned

Сегодня я не могу, но завтра я делал бы.

Today I cannot do, but I would do tomorrow.

 

3. The conditional mood may be used in colloquial speech to express a request, mild order or advice.

Что ты всё играешь? Делал бы домашнее задание.

Why are you playing all the time? You should do the homework.

 

Что ты всё сидишь дома? Пошёл бы в кино!

Why are you staying at home all the time? You should go for a movie.

 

Note: The particle бы is not necessarily attached to the verb: it may stand anywhere in the sentence:

 

Я делал бы домашнее задание если бы У меня было время....

I would do the homework if I had time.

I would have done the homework if I had time.

 

Я бы делал  домашнее задание если бы У меня было время....

I would do the homework if I had time.

I would have done the homework if I had time.

                                                                                            

Я делал бы домашнее задание если бы У меня было время....

I would do the homework if I had time.

I would have done the homework if I had time.

                                                                                            

Я cделал бы домашнее задание если бы У меня было время....

I would do the homework if I had time.

I would have done the homework if I had time.

 

Я бы cделал  домашнее задание если бы У меня было время....

I would do the homework if I had time.

I would have done the homework if I had time.

 

4 If the conditional is used in a complex sentence, the particle бы is found in both the principal and the subordinate clauses:

Я делал бы домашнее задание если бы У меня было время....

I would do the homework if I had time.

I would have done the homework if I had time.

 

Note: The particle бы may also be used in impersonal sentences to express a desired or planned action.

Нужно бы помогать больному товарищу.

We should help our sick friend.

Поехать бы в кино!

It would be nice to go to a movie!

 

Read the following sentences paying attention to the use of бы conditional mood.

Если бы у меня было время, я писал бы письма всем друзьям.

If I had enough time I should have written letters to all of my friends.

 

Пошёл бы ты по­гулять!

You should go for a walk.

 

Пел бы ты горячий кофе!

You should have a cup of hot coffee.

 

Если бы у меня было много денег, я устроил бы здесь школу для бедных сельских детей.

If I had enough money, I should have built a school for poor village children.

 

Если бы у меня было этот учбник, я сдал бы экзамен ещё лучше.

If I had that text book I should have given the exam still better.

 

Read the following sentences paying attention to the use of если, бы and если бы

я мог бы об этом догадаться

I might have guessed it

 

было бы очень приятно вас видеть

 it would be very nice to see you

 

я бы выпил пива

I should like a drink of beer

 

вы бы отдохнули 

you should take a rest

 

все бы ему знать 

he would like to know everything

 

не вам бы говорить 

you had better be quiet

 

если бог даст

God willing, Lord willing, with God's help; I hope to God; God grant

 

если бы да кабы

if ifs and ans were pots and pans

 

если бы не

but for, if it were not

 

если бы это было так

if this were the case, if this were so

 

если возможно

if possible

 

если вообще

if at all

 

если да if so

 

если даже even if

 

если и even if

 

если не unless

 

если не считать

other than, but for, with the exception of, except for

 

если позволите if you don't mind, if I may

 

если так if that's the case

 

если только provided, if only

 

если это так if so, if this is the case

 

если угодно if you will/wish

 

если это необходимо if necessary, if need be

 

горячий hot

 

устраивать - устроить  arrange, organize, establish