* To express possibility or ability in the conditional tense: "Je pourrais aller au cinéma ce soir" (I could go to the cinema tonight).
* To make polite requests or suggestions: "Pourriez-vous me passer le sel, s'il vous plaît?" (Could you pass me the salt, please?).
* To express doubt or uncertainty: "Il pourrait pleuvoir demain" (It might rain tomorrow).
The exact meaning of "pourrais" will depend on the context of the sentence.