Exprimer le Regret (Expressing Regret)

What You'll LearnHow to correctly form the past conditional tense.How to use the past conditional to talk about regrets.How to use the past conditional in sentences with si (if) [see] to talk about 'what if' situations in the past.How to tell the difference between expressing a regret and making a gentle complaint.Imagine this: You forgot your best friend's birthday. 🎂 You feel bad and think, 'Oh no! J'aurais dû lui téléphoner ! (I should have called them!) [zho-RAY doo lwee tay-lay-fo-NAY] Si seulement je m'en étais souvenu... (If only I had remembered...) [see suhl-MAWN zhuh mahn ay-TAY soov-NOO]' This lesson will teach you exactly how to express these kinds of thoughts in French.When You'll Use ThisTalking about missed opportunities or past decisions.Gently telling someone they could h...

French TermWhat It MeansExample in a SentenceLe regret (The regret) [luh ruh-GRAY]A feeling of sadness or disappointment about something that happened or something you didn't do.J'ai le regret de ne pas être allé à la fête. (I regret not going to the party.) [zhay luh ruh-GRAY duh nuh pahz etr ah-LAY ah lah FET]Le reproche (The reproach/complaint) [luh ruh-PROSH]The act of blaming someone for a fault, mistake, or failure.Tu aurais pu m'aider. C'est un reproche. (You could have helped me. That's a complaint.) [too o-RAY poo meh-DAY. sayt uhn ruh-PROSH]Une occasion manquée (A missed opportunity) [oon oh-kah-ZYOHN mahn-KAY]An opportunity that wasn't taken.Ne pas postuler pour ce stage était une occasion manquée. (Not applying for that internship was a missed opportunity.) [nuh pah pohs-too-LA...

1. How to Form the Past ConditionalRule: The past conditional is formed with the helping verb avoir (to have) [ah-VWAHR] or être (to be) [ET-ruh] in the present conditional tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb.Formula: Subject + aurais, aurais, aurait, aurions, auriez, auraient [o-RAY, o-RAY, o-RAY, o-ree-OHN, o-ree-AY, o-RAY] OR serais, serais, serait, serions, seriez, seraient [suh-RAY, suh-RAY, suh-RAY, suh-ree-OHN, suh-ree-AY, suh-RAY] + past participle.Examples:J'aurais fini mes devoirs. (I would have finished my homework.) [zho-RAY fee-NEE may duh-VWAHR] (with avoir [ah-VWAHR])Elle serait allée au cinéma. (She would have gone to the movies.) [el suh-RAY ah-LAY oh see-nay-MAH] (with être [ET-ruh], notice the past participle agrees)2. Expressing Regret or a Complaint...