French Phrase
Ils pourraient l'annuler.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘They could cancel it.’ It uses the conditional of the verb pouvoir to express a possible action that is not certain, often sounding more polite or tentative than the simple present.
When to use
Use this structure when you want to talk about a possible cancellation that depends on circumstances, or when you’re politely suggesting that they have the ability to cancel something.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilspourraientl'annuler
Subject pronoun (Ils)
Third‑person plural pronoun meaning 'they'.
Conditional of pouvoir (pourraient)
The conditional tense expresses possibility or polite suggestion; 'could' in English.
Direct object pronoun (l')
Clitic pronoun that replaces a masculine singular noun (le) and is placed before the verb.
Infinitive after conditional (annuler)
When a modal verb (pouvoir, devoir, vouloir) is in the conditional, it is followed by an infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
Le concert est prévu pour demain, mais la météo n’est pas bonne.
The concert is scheduled for tomorrow, but the weather isn’t good.
Ils pourraient l'annuler si la pluie devient trop forte.
They could cancel it if the rain gets too heavy.
✕Common Mistakes
Ils pourront l'annuler.
Do not use the future tense « pourront » here; the conditional is required for the meaning ‘could’.
Ils pourraient annuler le.
The object pronoun must stay before the verb, not after the infinitive.
Ils pourraient annuler.
Avoid using the present infinitive without the modal verb; it changes the meaning.
↔Alternatives
Ils peuvent l'annuler.
They can cancel it.
Ils auraient pu l'annuler.
They could have canceled it.
Ils sont capables de l'annuler.
They are capable of canceling it.
Cultural Tip
In French, the conditional is often used to soften a statement or to sound more diplomatic. Saying « Ils pourraient l'annuler » sounds less direct than the present « Ils peuvent l'annuler », which can be useful in professional or formal contexts where you don’t want to sound too commanding.