What If?
Шта би било кад би било? — Build wishes, polite requests and unreal possibilities with бих.
The five short forms
ја бих, ти би, он/она би, ми бисмо, ви бисте, они би. Write бисмо as one word — never «би смо».
Ми бисмо остали дуже.
We would stay longer.
The participle agrees
The conditional combines бих with the -о/-ла form: радио бих / радила бих, отишао бих / отишла бих. Gender belongs to the person doing the action.
Радо бих дошла.
I would gladly come. (female speaker)
If I had…
Unreal conditions use кад бих + past participle: «Кад бих имао више времена, више бих читао.» A female speaker says имала and читала.
Кад бих имао времена, путовао бих.
If I had time, I would travel. (male speaker)
A polite wish
«Желео бих…» / «Желела бих…» softens a request. In a restaurant, «Желео бих кафу» is more formal than «Ја ћу кафу».
Желела бих да резервишем сто.
I would like to reserve a table. (female speaker)
Clitics keep their place
In «Ја бих ти помогао», бих comes early, then dative ти. With the participle first: «Помогао бих ти.» Both are natural; the first stresses ја.
Помогао бих ти, али не могу.
I would help you, but I can't.
Put It Together
Keep the lesson goal in view: Build wishes, polite requests and unreal possibilities with бих. Revisit the examples, then test yourself in practice.