Bonjour,

I know that "I would like to have a book" translates to:
"je voudrais avoir un livre"
But if I would like to say that I would HAVE LIKED to have a book, would it be:
"j'ai voudrais avoir un livre"???? And, if so, how is it for the other pronouns?
Does only the "avoir" conjugate or the "voudrais" as well?
tu as voudrais avoir un livre
il a voudrait avoir un livre
nous avons voudrions un livre,?? etc.

Somehow the "nous" sentence doesn't sound correct to me.

Merci de votre aide.

It would be nice if there were a past participle for the condtionnel as well.

(or, perhaps, there is?!)

Take one more look at the English, "I WOULD HAVE liked." The auxiliary (helping) verb is in the Conditional and then the past participle of "vouloir" follows. "J'aurais voulu avoir un livre.

Here is the Present Perfect = I have liked = j'ai voulu

Here is the Past Perfect = I had liked = J'avais voulu

Here is the Future Perfect = I will have liked = J'aurai voulu

Here is the Conditional Perfect = I would have liked = J'aurais voulu

See how the auxiliary changes. If the verb uses être in compound tenses, it's the same idea: present, imperfect, future, conditional of that helping verb, followed by the past participle.

Now, let's take the "nous" = we would have liked to have? = Nous aurions voulu avoir

Think you have it? For your last remark, you COULD say "there is a past participle WITH the Conditional!

Sra (aka Mme)

Oh, I see! So for my example you would then simply use the conditionnel of "avoir" and the past participle of "vouloir".

Ingenious - I like it!!
Thank you so very, very much!!!!!

Bonjour,

To express "I would have liked to have a book" in French, you would use the conditional mood. The verb "voudrais" (from vouloir) is in the conditional form, and the verb "avoir" (to have) remains in the infinitive form. The correct translation is:

"J'aurais aimé avoir un livre."

Let's break down the conjugations for different pronouns:

- "tu" (you): tu aurais aimé avoir un livre.
- "il/elle/on" (he/she/one): il/elle/on aurait aimé avoir un livre.
- "nous" (we): nous aurions aimé avoir un livre.
- "vous" (you): vous auriez aimé avoir un livre.
- "ils/elles" (they): ils/elles auraient aimé avoir un livre.

So, only the verb "avoir" conjugates in this case. The verb "voudrais" doesn't change.

Regarding your concern about the "nous" sentence, "nous aurions aimé avoir un livre" is the correct form. If it still doesn't sound right to you, it could be a matter of personal preference or perhaps another form that you are more accustomed to.

I hope this explanation helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.