tomaría
/toh-mah-REE-ah/
I would take
Showing a hypothetical selection: "I would take (tomaría) the red apple."
tomaría(verb)
I would take
?Hypothetical selection or action (yo form)
,he/she/it would take
?Hypothetical selection or action (él/ella/usted form)
I would grab
?Physical action
,I would choose
?Making a selection
📝 In Action
Si tuviera más tiempo, tomaría ese curso de arte.
B1If I had more time, I would take that art course.
Ella dijo que tomaría el coche si llovía.
A2She said she would take the car if it rained.
¿Qué postre tomaría usted?
A1Which dessert would you take (or choose)? (Polite question)
💡 Grammar Points
Conditional Tense Function
The '-ía' ending tells you the action 'would' happen. It's used for hypothetical situations or giving advice (e.g., 'Yo tomaría un descanso' means 'I would take a break').
Polite Requests
Using 'tomaría' instead of 'tomo' (I take) or 'tome' (Take!) makes a request much more polite, like asking 'I would like to have...' in English.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Conditional and Future
Mistake: "Usando 'tomaré' (I will take) when meaning a hypothetical 'I would take'."
Correction: Use 'tomaría' for hypothetical actions dependent on a condition (If X happened, I would do Y). Use 'tomaré' for definite future plans.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Si' (If)
The conditional form 'tomaría' often follows a clause starting with 'si' (if) that uses the imperfect subjunctive (like 'si tuviera' or 'si fuera').
Illustrating the hypothetical consumption of a beverage: "I would drink (tomaría) the hot chocolate."
tomaría(verb)
I would drink
?Beverages (yo form)
,he/she/it would drink
?Beverages (él/ella/usted form)
I would have
?Ordering food/drink politely
📝 In Action
Yo tomaría un café con leche, por favor.
A1I would have a coffee with milk, please.
Si hiciera calor, ella tomaría un refresco.
B1If it were hot, she would drink a soda.
⭐ Usage Tips
Politeness in Restaurants
When ordering in Spanish-speaking countries, using the conditional form 'tomaría' is the most common and polite way to state what you want to consume.
Depicting the assumption of responsibility: "I would assume (tomaría) this duty."
tomaría(verb)
I would assume
?Taking responsibility or adopting a posture
,he/she/it would make
?Making a decision or measure
I would adopt
?Taking an attitude
,I would catch
?Taking public transport
📝 In Action
Si yo fuera el jefe, tomaría medidas más estrictas.
B2If I were the boss, I would take stricter measures.
Ella tomaría el autobús si estuviera lloviendo.
B1She would take the bus if it were raining.
Él tomaría eso como un cumplido.
B1He would take that as a compliment.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
'Tomar' is versatile, meaning not just physical grasping, but also adopting abstract things like decisions ('tomar una decisión') or attitudes ('tomar una actitud').
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tomaría
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'tomaría' is used in the phrase: 'Si no hubiese tráfico, tomaría el metro'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'tomaría' means 'I would take' or 'he/she/usted would take'?
Since the 'yo' (I) and 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/formal you) forms are identical, you must rely on the context or the pronoun used. If no pronoun is explicitly stated, the context of the conversation will usually make it clear who the subject is.
Is 'tomaría' the same as 'tomara'?
No. 'Tomaría' is the conditional (would take), used for hypotheticals. 'Tomara' is the imperfect subjunctive, often used after 'si' (if) or for expressions of emotion/desire, and it translates roughly to 'I took' or 'I were to take' in a dependent clause.