AP Spanish : Conditional Tenses

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Spanish

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Conditional / El Condicional

Which verb best completes this sentence?

Si hubiera hecho el crimen, __________ culpable, pero no lo hice.

Possible Answers:

estuviera

sería

estaría

none of the other answers

Correct answer:

sería

Explanation:

This is a classic conditional haber/ser structure: the right answer is sería; estaría is in the right tense but does not agree with the adjective; estuviera both does not agree with the adjective and is in the wrong tense.

Example Question #1 : Conditional Perfect / El Condicional Perfecto

“Si yo tuviera mucho dinero, __________.”

Possible Answers:

yo compré una casa

yo compro una casa

None of the above would be accurate

yo habría comprado una casa

Correct answer:

yo habría comprado una casa

Explanation:

The statement “If I had a lot of money” requires the use of the conditional mood to complete the sentence. The only option that uses the conditional is “habría comprado” (I would have bought). 

 

Example Question #2 : Conditional Perfect / El Condicional Perfecto

Is something gramatically wrong with this sentence?

Siento como si no hubiera dormido por tres días, estoy muy cansado.

Possible Answers:

Siento is in the wrong tense.

This sentence is grammatically correct.

Hubiera dormido is in the wrong tense.

Estoy doesn't agree with the verb cansado.

Correct answer:

This sentence is grammatically correct.

Explanation:

The sentence above is grammatically correct, and uses a properly constructed conditional perfect subjunctive clause to describe the feeling introduced by the verb, siento.

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