Conditional about past!

Question

hi, my question is in the conditional lesson she says **Después de ir de excursión, encenderían lumbre** and i couldn t understand this sentence and how it is related to a past speculation? how is it translated exactly into English? and how do we use this conditional about past can somebody give more examples?

For example in the following example she says Ayer, correría más de 10 millas and its meaning is Yesterday, I must have run more than 10 miles so does it mean i ran 10 miles or i didn t run 10 miles?

Answer 1

For this example - Ayer, correría más de 10 millas.

it's good to remember that the conditional can be used to express speculation or probability about the past.

• so in answer to your question yes she 'probably did' run 10 miles but it's just a guess really.

We also use the conditional would in this way in English:

Where do you think John was?

Oh, he would have been at home.

• so he probably was at home but I guess there's always the possibility he wasn't so i'ts just speculation unless you're 100% sure.

Hope that helps a little at least

Answer 2

We are certain about the past: Eran las cinco, mas o menos.

We suppose, we are not sure, about the past: Serian las cinco mas o menos

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We are sure: Llegamos tarde porque perdimos el autobus.

But others suppose about us that: Perderian el autobus y , por eso, llegaron tarde.

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I hope I made it clear to you asduskun

Answer 3

JorgeViento could you please add the exact translations in English for your examples for example for your 2nd example Perderian el autobus y , por eso, llegaron tarde

does it mean They must have missed the bus that s why they arrived late? and what about your first example?

In English, the conditional is "could" or "could have", in this case "They could have missed the bus. . ." - lorenzo9, Jul 27, 2010

"They must have missed the bus that s why they arrived late " is correct - JorgeViento, Jul 28, 2010

First example: it must have been around 5 o' clock (when it happened) - JorgeViento, Jul 28, 2010

Answer 4

ok then, she translated that sentence as `Yesterday, i must have run more then 10 miles but can we translate it as Yesterday, i would run more than 10 miles? and can you give some more examples in spanish related to past speculation and with English translations thanks in advance by the way i still wonder about Después de ir de excursión, encenderían lumbre what does this sentece mean exactly? do we know that they lit the fire or we didn t see the event but we just guess? and one more thing i saw in writing section Le gustaría un vaso de agua does it mean She would like a glass of water? If so, why doesn t she use querer instead gustar? And if it s translated so, it doesn t have any conditional within? it s just a request, isn t it?

You could translate "Le gustaría un vaso de agua" as "A glass of water would please her" - pesta, Jul 27, 2010

I'm afraid 'would run' doesn't work in English to describe the past but you can have 'would have' :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 27, 2010

actually would is the past form of will so how come would doesn t work in past? - asduskun, Jul 28, 2010

Answer 5

anyone to answer my question?

Answer 6

Yo que tú habria comprado una más grande. If I had been you I would have bought a larger one.

Answer 7

ok my previous question is still valid i haven t got an answer for that yet but as for pesta's answer: Does it have a future or past meaning if we translate it as you say?