Skip to main content

The verb to smell · Conjugation

Conditional (would) of smell

The answer: would smell

B1

An imaginary or hypothetical situation.

This page for:

Quick answer

The Conditional (would) of the verb to smell is would smell.

Example: I would smell the flowers if I had time.

Full conjugation in the Conditional (would)

PronounFormContraction
Iwould smellI'd smell
Youwould smellYou'd smell
He / She / Itwould smellHe'd / She'd / It'd smell
Wewould smellWe'd smell
You (pl.)would smellYou'd smell
Theywould smellThey'd smell

Common mistakes to avoid

1. If I would have money ❌

Do not use would after if. In the if part, use the Past Simple. Would goes in the other part: If I had money, I would travel. The present is wrong too: If I have money, I would travel ❌.

2. I would to smell ❌

After would, use the base form, with no to and no -s: I would smell, she would smell. This is true for all modal verbs (helper verbs like can, could, should and must). But remember I would like to smell: here, to belongs to like.

3. I would can smell ❌

Would cannot go with can or must. Use could instead of “would can”: I could smell. Use would have to instead of “would must”: I would have to smell.

Practice quiz

Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank

Choose the correct answer: What is the Conditional of smell with she?

What's next?

Master the Conditional (would) of smell when you speak, not just on paper

The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.

Practise the Conditional (would) of smell on PLAY

Free · No sign-up · 3 minutes

For teachersYour whole class practises the Conditional (would) of smell, and you follow each student

The Academy has self-marking activities on this form, with a dashboard for each student: you see at a glance who is falling behind.

Discover the Academy

30-day free trial · No bank card needed

English contestThe English contest tests the Conditional (would) of smell in real sentences

Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.

Register my students

5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary

Frequently asked questions

How do you conjugate smell with would?+

Use would + the base form (the verb with no to): would smell. The form is the same for every person: I would smell, she would smell, they would smell. The short form is 'd: I'd smell.

When do you use would smell?+

Use would for an imaginary situation that is not real now: If I had more time, I would learn the guitar. You also use it to be polite: Would you like some juice?, I'd like a sandwich, please.

How do you use would smell in a sentence with if?+

Use if + the Past Simple in one part of the sentence, and would smell in the other part. Example: If I had more money, I would buy a new bike. Never put would in the if part: If I would have more money is wrong.

What is the difference between will smell and would smell?+

Will smell is for the real future: something you think will happen. Would smell is for an imaginary situation. Compare: If it's sunny tomorrow, we will go to the beach (this is possible). If I lived near the sea, I would go to the beach every day (but I don't live near the sea).

What are the short forms of would smell?+

Would becomes 'd: I'd smell, she'd smell. The negative would not becomes wouldn't: I wouldn't smell. Careful: 'd can also mean had. 'd + base form = would; 'd + past participle = had.

Related pages: smell Conditional (would)

Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.

Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →

Keep learning

More forms of the verb to smell are coming soon.