Conditional Indicative
2
votes
I came across the following conversation in Rosettta Stone but couldn't really understand why they are using conditional indicative.
A: ¿Le gustaría a usted jugar al tenís? B: No. Me gustaría jugar al golf.
831 views
updated Sep 10, 2015
edited by Lisa_H
posted by Lisa_H
1 Answer
3
votes
For the same reason we do in English- it softens a request:
A: ¿Le gustaría a usted jugar al tenís?
Would it be pleasing to you to play tennis (Would you like to play tennis)
B: No. Me gustaría jugar al golf.
No I would like to (it would please me to) play golf
Just as what would you like is a little softer in English than what do you want. Although tone obviously can make a big difference as well.
updated Sep 10, 2015
posted by bosquederoble
I use this so much that I'm not even sure how to phrase a request *without* the would part. - Manity, Sep 9, 2015
thank you. got it now:) - Lisa_H, Sep 10, 2015
De nada. :) - bosquederoble, Sep 10, 2015
