With clauses introduced by a verb in the conditional in Spanish + que we generally need a subordinate clause using El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo. These sentences express different things depending of the type of verb. The most common contexts are:
Expressing a wish
Me gustaría que fueras amable con mis padres esta noche.I'd like you to be nice to my parents tonight. [you = tú]
Ella querría que le renovasen su contrato pero no va a ser posible.She would like to have her contract renewed but it won't be possible.
Estaría bien que el banco nos concediera el préstamo.It'd be good if the bank authorized the loan.
Giving advice
-Mi bloque está muy sucio -Yo pediría a los vecinos que aumentáramos la cuota de la comunidad.-My apartment building is very dirty. -I'd ask the neighbors to increase the property maintanance fee.
-Mis padres quieren divorciarse. -Pues yo les sugeriría que fueran a terapia.-My parents want to divorce. - I would suggest that they go to counselling.
Os recomendaría que no os sentaseis en la terraza. Hace bastante frío.I'd recommend that you don't sit in the outdoor area. It's fairly chilly. [you = vosotros]
Les recomendaría que pidieran una ensalada como entrante.I'd recommend that you order a salad as a starter. [you = ustedes]
Te diría que tuvieras cuidado con ese chico.I'd be careful with that guy. [lit: I would say that you be careful with that guy)
Feelings
No me sorprendería que lo echaran del trabajo. Es muy flojo.I wouldn't be surprised if he was fired. He's very lazy.
Sinceramente, a nosotros nos entristecería que Carla volviera a su país.Honestly, we would be sad if Carla returned to her country.
All the examples above express a hypothetical idea set in the future. Bear in mind that, although the standard sequence of tenses used is:
El condicional + que + El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo
sometimes the subordinate clause uses El Presente de Subjuntivo; in this case the speaker expresses an action to be fullfilled in a closer future. For example:
future -
No me sorprendería que lo echaran del trabajo. Es muy flojo.I wouldn't be surprised if he was fired. He's very lazy.
suggests a closer future -
No me sorprendería que lo echen del trabajo. Es muy flojo.I wouldn't be surprised if they fire him. He's very lazy.
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