FrenchConjugationConditionnel

Connaître (to know) · Conditionnel

By TutorLily Editorial Team · Last updated May 29, 2026

Connaître in the French conditionnel présent is: je connaîtrais, tu connaîtrais, il/elle/on connaîtrait, nous connaîtrions, vous connaîtriez, ils/elles connaîtraient. The conditionnel présent of connaître uses the same stem 'connaîtr-' as the futur, plus imperfect endings. 'Si j'étudiais plus, je connaîtrais mieux la langue' = 'If I studied more, I would know the language better'.

connaître conjugation in the Conditionnel Présent
To Know	Connaître
I would know	je connaîtrais
you would know	tu connaîtrais
he/she would know	il/elle/on connaîtrait
we would know	nous connaîtrions
you would know	vous connaîtriez
they would know	ils/elles connaîtraient

Examples

Connaître (to know) in context

Sentences that use connaître in the conditionnel. Tap each to hear it.

Si j'étudiais plus, je connaîtrais mieux la langue.

If I studied more, I would know the language better.

Tu connaîtrais quelqu'un de bien?

Would you know someone good?

Il connaîtrait la réponse s'il avait écouté.

He would know the answer if he had listened.

Nous connaîtrions mieux le sujet avec plus de temps.

We would know the subject better with more time.

Vous connaîtriez ce livre s'il était plus connu.

You would know this book if it were better known.

Ils connaîtraient plus de gens s'ils sortaient davantage.

They would know more people if they went out more.

Tip

Working with the conditionnel

The conditionnel présent ("je parlerais") expresses what would happen if a condition were met ("si j'avais le temps, je voyagerais" — if I had time, I would travel). It's also the standard form for polite requests in French: "je voudrais" (I would like) is the polite version of "je veux"; "pourriez-vous" (could you) is the polite version of "pouvez-vous". Structurally, the conditionnel uses the same stem as the futur with imperfect endings: parler- + -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. Knowing the futur stem of any verb gives you the conditionnel for free — one of the most efficient pedagogy points in French.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do you conjugate connaître in the conditionnel?

The conditionnel of connaître is: je connaîtrais, tu connaîtrais, il/elle/on connaîtrait, nous connaîtrions, vous connaîtriez, ils/elles connaîtraient. Same stem 'connaîtr-' as the futur, plus imperfect endings.

What does 'tu connaîtrais...?' mean in conversation?

'Tu connaîtrais...?' = 'Would you know...?' — a soft, polite way to ask if someone has knowledge or contacts. 'Tu connaîtrais un bon restaurant?' (Would you know a good restaurant?). The conditional softens 'tu connais...?' (do you know...?) into a more tentative, polite question.

How do I form a si-imparfait + conditionnel sentence with connaître?

Standard hypothetical: 'si je voyageais plus, je connaîtrais le monde' (if I traveled more, I would know the world). The if-clause uses the imparfait; the main clause uses the conditionnel. Never put the conditionnel in the 'si' clause.