Verbs: Conditional Mood with 'бы'

01

бы (by) + Past Tense

The verb takes its ordinary past form, agreeing in gender and number with the subject, and бы (by) is added. The same form serves for present, future and past meanings: я бы купи́л (ya by kupílja by kupíl) is both I would buy and I would have bought.

• Я бы э́того не де́лала.

  Ya by étogo ne délala.Ja by étogo ne délala.

  I wouldn't do that.

• Я бы тебе́ дала́ де́ньги.

  Ya by tebé dalá dén'gi.Ja by tebé dalá dénʹgi.

  I would have given you the money.

Бы (By) is never stressed. It usually follows the verb or the first word of the clause, but it can move.

02

Unreal Conditions: е́сли бы (yésli by)

A condition that is not true, or not expected to come true, takes бы (by) in both halves: е́сли бы (yésli byjésli by) + past tense in the condition, and бы (by) + past tense in the result.

• Е́сли бы я была́ бога́та, у меня́ была́ бы больша́я кварти́ра.

  Yésli by ya bylá bogáta, u menyá bylá by bol'sháya kvartíra.Jésli by ja bylá bogáta, u menjá bylá by bolʹšája kvartíra.

  If I were rich, I would have a big apartment.

• Е́сли бы ты мне сказа́ла, я бы тебе́ дала́ де́ньги.

  Yésli by ty mne skazála, ya by tebé dalá dén'gi.Jésli by ty mne skazála, ja by tebé dalá dénʹgi.

  If you had told me, I would have given you the money.

A real condition takes no бы (by): Е́сли ты не поторо́пишься, ты опозда́ешь (Yésli ty ne potorópish'sya, ty opozdáyesh'Jésli ty ne potorópišʹsja, ty opozdáješʹ).

03

Polite Requests

Не могли́ бы вы...? (Ne moglí by vy...?) is the politest way to ask for something, literally Couldn't you...?.

• Не могли́ бы вы переда́ть мне соль?

  Ne moglí by vy peredát' mne sol'?Ne moglí by vy peredátʹ mne solʹ?

  Could you pass me the salt?

• Не могли́ бы вы позва́ть официа́нта?

  Ne moglí by vy pozvát' ofitsiánta?Ne moglí by vy pozvátʹ oficiánta?

  Could you call the waiter?

04

Suggestions with почему́ бы не (pochemú by ne)

Почему́ бы не (Pochemú by nePočemú by ne) + infinitive, with the person in the dative, makes a gentle suggestion: why not ...?.

• Почему́ бы нам не сходи́ть в рестора́н?

  Pochemú by nam ne skhodít' v restorán?Počemú by nam ne sxodítʹ v restorán?

  Why don't we go to a restaurant?

05

Wishes

Хоте́л бы (Khotél byXotél by) / хоте́ла бы (khotéla byxotéla by) is a softer I would like than the plain хочу́ (khochúxočú).

• Я хоте́ла бы ча́шку ко́фе.

  Ya khotéla by cháshku kófe.Ja xotéla by čášku kófe.

  I would like a cup of coffee.