Revision: Uses of WOULD, 11th February 2019
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'tincreasetaxes.")
-
Why didn't you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! ("It'sgoingto 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
for the 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
for conditionals
We
often use would
to express the so-called second and third conditionals:
-
If he lost his job he would have no money.
-
If I had won the lottery I 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'msureshe'd come.
Although
there is always a main verb, sometimes it is understood (not stated)
as in:
-
I'd like to stay. | I wish you would. (wouldstay)
-
Do you think he'd come? | I'm sure he would. (would come)
-
Who would help us? | John would. (wouldhelpus)
would
for
desire or inclination
-
I'd love to live here.
-
Would you like some coffee?
-
What I'd really like is some tea.
would
for 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?)
wouldforopinionor
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
for
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.
Note
that all
of these uses of would
express some kind of distance or remoteness:
-
remoteness in time (past time)
-
remoteness of possibilityorprobability
-
remoteness between speakers (formality, politeness)
would
for
presumption or expectation
-
That would be Jo calling. I'llanswerit.
-
We saw a police helicopter overhead yesterday morning. | Really? They would have been looking for those bank robbers.
Would
for
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
for
derogatory comment
-
They would say that, wouldn't they?
-
John said he didn't steal the money. | Well, he would, wouldn't he?
would
that
for regret (poetic/rare)
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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