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Would is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use would mainly to:
* talk about the past
* talk about the future in the past
* express the conditional mood
We also use would for other functions, such as:
* expressing desire, polite requests and questions, opinion or hope, wish and regret...
Structure of Would
subject + would + main verb
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
Notice that:
* Would is never conjugated. It is always would or 'd (short form).
* The main verb is always the bare infinitive.
NOTE:
Use of Would
would: Talking about the past
We often use would as a kind of past tense of will or going to:
* Even as a boy, he knew that he would succeed in life.
* I thought it would rain so I brought my umbrella.
Using would as as a kind of past tense of will or going to is common in reported speech:
* She said that she would buy some eggs. ("I will buy some eggs.")
* The candidate said that he wouldn't increase taxes. ("I won't increase taxes.")
* Why didn't you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! ("It's going to rain.")
We often use would not to talk about past refusals:
* He wanted a divorce but his wife would not agree.
* Yesterday morning, the car wouldn't start.
We sometimes use would (rather like used to) when talking about habitual past behaviour:
* Every weekday my father would come home from work at 6pm and watch TV.
* Every summer we'd go to the seaside.
* Sometimes she'd phone me in the middle of the night.
* We would always argue. We could never agree.
would: Future in past
When talking about the past we can use would to express something that has not happened at the time we are talking about:
* In London she met the man that she would one day marry.
* He left 5 minutes late, unaware that the delay would save his life.
would: Conditionals
We often use would to express the so-called second and third conditionals:
* If he lost his job he would have no money.
* IfI had won the lotteryI would have bought a car.
Using the same conditional structure, we often use would when giving advice:
* I wouldn't eat that if I were you.
* If I were in your place I'd refuse.
* If you asked me I would say you should go.
Sometimes the condition is "understood" and there does not have to be an "if" clause:
* Someone who liked John would probably love John's father. (If someone liked John they would probably love John's father.)
* You'd never know it. (for example: If you met him you would never know that he was rich.)
* Why don't you invite Mary? I'm sure she'd come.
NOTE:
would: Desire or inclination
* I'd love to live here.
* Would you like some coffee?
* What I'd really like is some tea.
would: Polite requests and questions
* Would you open the door, please? (more polite than: Open the door, please.)
* Would you go with me? (more polite than: Will you go with me?)
* Would you know the answer? (more polite than: Do you know the answer?)
* What would the capital of Nigeria be? (more polite than: What is the capital of Nigeria?)
would: Opinion or hope
* I would imagine that they'll buy a new one.
* I suppose some people would call it torture.
* I would have to agree.
* I would expect him to come.
* Since you ask me I'd say the blue one is best.
would: Wish
* I wish you would stay. (I really want you to stay. I hope you will stay.)
* They don't like me. I'm sure they wish I'd resign.
would: Presumption or expectation
* That would be Jo calling. I'll answer it.
* We saw a police helicopter overhead yesterday morning. | Really? They would have been looking for those bank robbers.
would: Uncertainty
* He would seem to be getting better. (less certain than: He seems to be getting better.)
* It would appear that I was wrong. (less certain than: It appears that I was wrong.)
would: Derogatory
* They would say that, wouldn't they?
* John said he didn't steal the money. | Well, he would, wouldn't he?
would that: Regret (poetic/rare) - with clause
This rare, poetic or literary use of would does not have the normal structure:
* Would that it were true! (If only it were true! We wish that it were true!)
* Would that his mother had lived to see him become president.
* talk about the past
* talk about the future in the past
* express the conditional mood
We also use would for other functions, such as:
* expressing desire, polite requests and questions, opinion or hope, wish and regret...
Structure of Would
subject + would + main verb
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
Notice that:
* Would is never conjugated. It is always would or 'd (short form).
* The main verb is always the bare infinitive.
NOTE:
Use of Would
would: Talking about the past
We often use would as a kind of past tense of will or going to:
* Even as a boy, he knew that he would succeed in life.
* I thought it would rain so I brought my umbrella.
Using would as as a kind of past tense of will or going to is common in reported speech:
* She said that she would buy some eggs. ("I will buy some eggs.")
* The candidate said that he wouldn't increase taxes. ("I won't increase taxes.")
* Why didn't you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! ("It's going to rain.")
We often use would not to talk about past refusals:
* He wanted a divorce but his wife would not agree.
* Yesterday morning, the car wouldn't start.
We sometimes use would (rather like used to) when talking about habitual past behaviour:
* Every weekday my father would come home from work at 6pm and watch TV.
* Every summer we'd go to the seaside.
* Sometimes she'd phone me in the middle of the night.
* We would always argue. We could never agree.
would: Future in past
When talking about the past we can use would to express something that has not happened at the time we are talking about:
* In London she met the man that she would one day marry.
* He left 5 minutes late, unaware that the delay would save his life.
would: Conditionals
We often use would to express the so-called second and third conditionals:
* If he lost his job he would have no money.
* IfI had won the lotteryI would have bought a car.
Using the same conditional structure, we often use would when giving advice:
* I wouldn't eat that if I were you.
* If I were in your place I'd refuse.
* If you asked me I would say you should go.
Sometimes the condition is "understood" and there does not have to be an "if" clause:
* Someone who liked John would probably love John's father. (If someone liked John they would probably love John's father.)
* You'd never know it. (for example: If you met him you would never know that he was rich.)
* Why don't you invite Mary? I'm sure she'd come.
NOTE:
would: Desire or inclination
* I'd love to live here.
* Would you like some coffee?
* What I'd really like is some tea.
would: Polite requests and questions
* Would you open the door, please? (more polite than: Open the door, please.)
* Would you go with me? (more polite than: Will you go with me?)
* Would you know the answer? (more polite than: Do you know the answer?)
* What would the capital of Nigeria be? (more polite than: What is the capital of Nigeria?)
would: Opinion or hope
* I would imagine that they'll buy a new one.
* I suppose some people would call it torture.
* I would have to agree.
* I would expect him to come.
* Since you ask me I'd say the blue one is best.
would: Wish
* I wish you would stay. (I really want you to stay. I hope you will stay.)
* They don't like me. I'm sure they wish I'd resign.
would: Presumption or expectation
* That would be Jo calling. I'll answer it.
* We saw a police helicopter overhead yesterday morning. | Really? They would have been looking for those bank robbers.
would: Uncertainty
* He would seem to be getting better. (less certain than: He seems to be getting better.)
* It would appear that I was wrong. (less certain than: It appears that I was wrong.)
would: Derogatory
* They would say that, wouldn't they?
* John said he didn't steal the money. | Well, he would, wouldn't he?
would that: Regret (poetic/rare) - with clause
This rare, poetic or literary use of would does not have the normal structure:
* Would that it were true! (If only it were true! We wish that it were true!)
* Would that his mother had lived to see him become president.
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