Conditional -tu

The Conditional

Level 4

Drop -t from the infinitive and add -tu: braukt → brauktu (would go). The form is the same for every person: Es brauktu, bet nav laika. (I would go, but there is no time.)

How It Works

1. The form. Use the infinitive and change -t to -tu:

  • braukt → brauktu, lasīt → lasītu, runāt → runātu
  • iet → ietu, dot → dotu, ēst → ēstu, būt → būtu
  • Reflexive: priecāties → priecātos, mācīties → mācītos

Every person uses the same form: es brauktu, tu brauktu, viņš brauktu, mēs brauktu, jūs brauktu, viņi brauktu. For the negative, add ne-: Es to nedarītu. (I would not do that.)

2. Imagined situations. The conditional describes something that is not real: Es brauktu, bet nav laika. With ja, it forms an unreal "if" sentence.

3. Polite wishes and requests. It softens what you say: Es gribētu kafiju (see es gribētu), Vai tu varētu man palīdzēt? (Could you help me?), Es labprāt izdzertu kafiju. (I would gladly have a coffee.)

4. Other uses. The conditional also appears in purpose clauses with lai and in advice with vajadzētu. For "would have", see būtu + participle.

Examples (6)

  1. Es brauktu, bet nav laika.

    I would go, but there is no time.

    Braukt → brauktu.

  2. Es labprāt izdzertu kafiju.

    I would gladly have a coffee.

    Izdzert → izdzertu. Labprāt (gladly) makes it a friendly wish.

  3. Vai tu varētu man palīdzēt?

    Could you help me?

    Varēt → varētu: a polite request.

  4. Kur tu gribētu dzīvot?

    Where would you like to live?

    Gribēt → gribētu.

  5. Es to nedarītu.

    I would not do that.

    Ne- goes at the front: nedarītu.

  6. Viņi priecātos tevi redzēt.

    They would be glad to see you.

    A reflexive verb ends in -tos: priecāties → priecātos.

Common Mistakes

  • Building the conditional from the present stem.

    Es lasātu grāmatu.
    Es lasītu grāmatu.

    The conditional comes from the infinitive: lasīt → lasītu, not from the present lasa.

  • Dropping the reflexive ending.

    Es priecātu tevi redzēt.
    Es priecātos tevi redzēt.

    Reflexive verbs keep their -s: priecāties → priecātos.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Conditional -tuLevel 4The Conditional

Learn This First

The conditional builds on es gribētu.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.