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would have (expressing a hypothetical possession or situation)
Si j'avais le temps, j'aurais déjà fini ce travail.
If I had the time, I would have already finished this work.
auxiliary used to form the conditional past (would have + past participle)
J'aurais aimé te le dire plus tôt.
I would have liked to tell you earlier.
Notes
GENERAL INFO
Aurais is a conjugated form of the French verb *avoir* (to have). It is the first and second person singular (je, tu) of the conditional present tense. It also acts as the auxiliary verb for the *conditionnel passé*.
USAGE
It generally translates to "would have" (e.g., *J'aurais aimé te voir* - I would have liked to see you). As an auxiliary, it forms the conditional past of other verbs: *Tu aurais mangé* (You would have eaten).
TRAPS
Do not confuse aurais (conditional) with *avais* (imperfect). Aurais expresses hypothetical situations, wishes, or politeness, while *avais* describes past states or ongoing actions in the past.