The conditional tense expresses "would" and is used with requests and doubts.  It is also used in hypothetical situations with "if" clauses or with events or actions that may occur in the future, but probably won't.

To form the present conditional, use the future stem and these endings for the three types of verbs.  (The verbs that have irregular future forms are also irregular in the conditional tense.)

Gli parlerei, ma non è a casa.  I would talk to him, but he's not at home.
Prendereste un caffè?  Would you like some coffee?
Sarei più contenta.  I would be happier.

As in the future tense, verbs ending in -care and -gare add an h after the c or g for pronunciation.  Verbs endings in -ciare and -giare drop the final i in all forms of the present conditional.

Dovere, potere, and volere all have irregular forms in the present conditional:

The past conditional expresses the same basic idea as the present conditional.  It is used to express unfulfilled requests, situations that did not occur, or events which had the possibility to fulfill themselves, but didn't.  It is formed by using the present conditional of avere or essere and the past participle of the main verb.  One difference between English and Italian usage of the past conditional is that when expressing a future action from the viewpoint of the past, Italian uses the past conditional whereas English uses the present conditional.

Ha detto che sarebbe venuto.  He said that he would come.