22.1) Conditional

Formation

The conditional mood is formed by using the following form of the auxiliary verb "съм", followed by the past active aorist participle of the verb:

• аз бих
• ти би
• той/тя/то би
• ние бихме
• вие бихте
• те биха

Examples

"Аз бих работил(а)" - I would work
"Те биха работили" - They would work
"Ние бихме били богати" - We would be rich

Note how the participle has to agree in number and gender with the subject.

Like in English, the conditional is used for hypothetical sentences or for politeness:

"Ако имах деца, не бих работил(а)" - If I had children, I would not work
"Бих искал(а) чай" - I would like some tea

Word Order

Short forms of the dative and accusative personal pronouns, reflexive particles, and the ли question particle (all clitics), are placed between the auxilliary and the verb:

"Бих го използвал(а)" - I would use it
"Бих му се обадил(а)" - I would call him

For closed questions, ли can be placed after the auxiliary:

"Би ли дошъл (дошла) с мен?" - Would you come with me?
"Биха ли го яли?" - Would they eat it?

New Vocabulary

In this exercise, you will also practice the following new vocabulary:

• insect: насекомо (plural: насекоми)
• chance (opportunity): възможност (f)
• abroad: в чужбина
• to recommend: препоръчвам imperf. and препоръчам perf.
• to believe: вярвам imperf.