Aurait (en. Would have)

/o.ʁɛ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates an action that could have occurred under certain conditions.

He would have finished his work if he had had more time.

Il aurait fini son travail s'il avait eu plus de temps.

Expresses a supposition or a wish.

If only she could have come to the party.

Si seulement elle aurait pu venir à la fête.

Used to express the result of an unrealized condition.

If he had known, he would have acted differently.

S'il avait su, il aurait agi différemment.

The word 'aurait' is derived from the verb 'avoir', coming from the Latin 'habere'.

could have

Indicates a possibility that did not occur.

aurait pu

should have

Expresses a regret or an unmet obligation.

aurait dû

would have liked

Indicates a past wish or preference.

aurait aimé

to have

Verb meaning to possess or hold.

avoir

to need

Expresses the necessity or need for something.

avoir besoin

had

Imperfect form of the verb 'avoir' in the third person singular.

avait

Can mean hesitation or doubt.

He might have made a different decision.

Il aurait peut-être pris une autre décision.

Used to soften a statement.

It's as if he would have wanted to say something.

C'est comme s'il aurait voulu dire quelque chose.