Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Imagining what pocket money could do in Spanish
Discussing hypothetical scenarios with pocket money is a great way to practice the Spanish Conditional tense. This guide helps you talk to your children about saving, spending, and making thoughtful financial choices using 'if' clauses and imagined outcomes.
What you'll learn
- Express hypothetical actions using the Conditional Simple.
- Formulate questions about imagined choices.
- Use 'if' clauses to describe the consequences of certain spending habits.
- Learn vocabulary related to money management.
Spanish phrases for imagining what pocket money could do
¿Qué comprarías con cinco libras?
What would you buy with five pounds?
Uses the conditional form of 'comprar'.
Ahorraría la mitad para algo especial.
I would save half for something special.
'Ahorraría' comes from the verb 'ahorrar' (to save).
¿Gastarías todo en esa revista?
Would you spend everything on that magazine?
'Gastar' is the standard verb for spending money.
Compararía los precios primero.
I would compare the prices first.
'Compararía' expresses a hypothetical intended action.
Si comprara ese llavero, no me quedaría nada.
If I bought that key ring, I would have nothing left.
Uses the imperfect subjunctive 'comprara' followed by the conditional 'quedaría'.
Pondríamos el resto en tu hucha.
We would put the rest in your money box.
'Pondríamos' is the irregular conditional form of 'poner'.
¿Elegiría tu hermano lo mismo?
Would your brother choose the same thing?
Remember to place the subject after the verb in questions like this.
Esperaría hasta la semana que viene.
I would wait until next week.
'Esperar' can mean both 'to wait' and 'to hope'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Ahorrar
To save
Specifically used for money or energy.
Gastar
To spend
Used for money or time.
La hucha
The money box / piggy bank
A common term in Spain; 'alcancía' is more common in Latin America.
El llavero
The key ring
A compound word from 'llave' (key).
El resto
The rest / The remainder
Used when talking about the leftover amount of money.
El Condicional Simple (The Conditional Tense)
To form the conditional in Spanish, add the endings to the infinitive of the verb. These endings are the same for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I would (yo) | Infinitive + -ía | compraría |
| You would (tú) | Infinitive + -ías | ahorrarías |
| We would (nosotros) | Infinitive + -íamos | gastaríamos |
Hypothetical 'Si' Clauses
When imagining a situation (If I did X, I would Y), Spanish uses the Imperfect Subjunctive after 'si' and the Conditional for the result.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| The 'If' Part | Si + Imperfect Subjunctive | Si tuviera más dinero... (If I had more money...) |
| The Result | Conditional | ...compraría un juguete. (...I would buy a toy.) |
More examples
Yo no gastaría todo hoy.
I wouldn't spend it all today.
Adding 'no' before the conditional verb makes it negative.
¿Qué harías tú?
What would you do?
'Harías' is the irregular conditional form of 'hacer'.
Sería mejor ahorrar un poco.
It would be better to save a little.
'Sería' is the conditional form of 'ser' (to be).