Use Of Would

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.
• I knew Julie would make dinner.
• He promised he would send a postcard from Egypt
• I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM.

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.
• 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'm sure she'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. (Would stay)
• Do you think he'd come? | I'm sure he Would. (Would come)
• Who Would help us? | John Would. (Would help us) 
  
  
   

Would: Desire or inclination

• I’d love to live here.
• Would you like some to drink?
• What I’d really like is some tea.
• Would you like some tea?
• I’d like to follow you
  
  
  
  

Would: Polite requests and questions

• Would you open the window, please? (more polite than: Open the window, please.)
• Would you clear the board, please? (more polite than: Clear rhe board, 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 she is a beautiful girl. 
  
  
   

Would: Wish

• I wish you Would come to my party. (I really want you to come to my party. I hope you will com to my party.)
• They don't like me. I'm sure they wish I’d resign.
• I wish she Would love me.
• He wish he Would not in here.
• I wish I Wouldn’t come late.
  
  
  
  

Would: Presumption or expectation

• That Would be Fajar calling. I will not answer it.
• We saw a police helicopter overhead yesterday morning. Really? They Would have been looking for those bank robbers.
• That Would be Steve at the door.
• This is my grandma Jo, and that Would be my granddad George.
• That Would be Kholis in the yard
  
  
  
  

Would: Uncertainty

• The plant Would seem to be getting bigger. (less certain than: The plant seems to be getting bigger.)
• It Would appear that I was wrong. (less certain than: It appears that I was wrong.)
• Joe Would seem to be getting better.
• I Would seem to growing higher.
• She Would seem to getting richer
  
  
  
  

Would: Derogatory

• They Would say that, Wouldn't they?
• You Would stay here, Wouldn’t you?
• She Would come to my home, Wouldn’t She?
• You Would help me, Wouldn’t you?
• 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 her father were right.
• Would that it were wrong.
• Would that my mother had lived to see me become great man.
• Would that his brother had lived to see him become doctor.