When we want to talk about something that would have happened but didn't, we use the past conditional (condizionale passato). It is perfect for discussing missed opportunities, unfulfilled desires, and regrets—especially when recounting travel mishaps!
Form the past conditional using the present conditional of the auxiliary verb (avere or essere) and the past participle of the main verb.
| Pronoun | Avere | Essere |
|---|
| io | avrei | sarei |
| tu | avresti | saresti |
| lui/lei | avrebbe | sarebbe |
| noi | avremmo | saremmo |
| voi | avreste | sareste |
| loro | avrebbero | sarebbero |
Using "Avere"
Most verbs use avere. We often pair the past conditional with ma (but) to explain exactly why the action didn't happen.
It is also frequently paired with altrimenti (otherwise) to express what the consequence would have been if you hadn't acted differently.
Using "Essere"
Verbs of motion, changes of state, and all reflexive verbs take essere as their auxiliary. Just like with the passato prossimo, when you use essere, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
Standard verbs of motion follow the exact same rules for essere and agreement.
Expressing Regrets
Ultimately, whether using avere or essere, the past conditional is the go-to tense for expressing a rimpianto (regret) about a missed opportunity.
