Conditional Forms: Saying "Would Do"
To talk about hypothetical situations or what someone "would do," you use the conditional mood. This is formed using the past tense form of the verb (the -ў/-л/-ла/-ло/-лі form) followed by the conditional particle бы. The particle бы is usually placed after the verb or the subject, but can also appear after other words for emphasis.
- Formation: Past tense (l-form) + particle бы
- Examples: Я чыта́ў бы (m.) / чыта́ла бы (f.) тую́ кнíгу (I would read that book). Ён пайшо́ў бы ў кіно́ (He would go to the cinema). Мы зрабі́лі б гэта ўсё ра́зам (We would do that all together - бы can shorten to б after a vowel). Што б вы хаце́лі? (What would you like? - бы after a vowel).