The auxiliary verb would has many uses. For example, it can be used for a polite request (“would you like…”), to express a conditional statement (“If I could, I would…”), a past action (In the past, I would always do…”), or even a personal preference (“I would like…”). In this lesson, I will cover all the various uses of would and give you many examples of how it is used. Would you like to watch this video? I think it would be useful for you! And would you please do the quiz after watching?
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Would you like to know the difference between the words will and would?
In this article, we will look at the different meanings of will and would, explore how and when we use each of these words, and give examples that show how will and would are typically used in sentences.
⚡ Quick summary
The word will is an auxiliary verb (helping verb) and modal verb with a variety of different uses. For example, it is often used to express expectations, determinations, and capabilities. Will is also used with all other verbs to form the future tense, as in We will buy milk at the store tonight. Would is the past tense of will and is the form of will used in the subjunctive mood to express hypothetical statements. Both will and would are used to ask questions, but would is considered to be more formal or polite when used in this context.
When to use will or would
The word will is an auxiliary verb (helping verb) and a modal verb. It is commonly used together with other verbs to express expectations, determinations, capabilities, and several other meanings. For example:
- My pug will eat anything if you let her.
- The forecast said it will rain tomorrow.
- Typically, a snake will shed its skin several times during its life.
Will is also used with every verb to form the future tense, as in I will go to the beach tomorrow.
The word would is the past tense form of will. In general, it is used in all the same senses of will to express that something occurred in the past.
For example:
- My grandparents claimed they would walk ten miles to get to school.
- When I worked as a mascot, kids would always be happy to see me.
- During her time as a food critic, she would visit many fancy restaurants.
The word would is also often used in place of will when using the subjunctive mood, a verb mood used to express hypothetical or conditional statements. When used this way, would is used to express conditional or hypothetical ability or possibility even when talking about the present or the future. When discussing the past in this context, the word would is often used alongside the auxiliary verb have.
For example:
- If given the chance, my cat would totally destroy this sofa.
- If we do nothing, the rainforest would surely be lost within a generation or two.
- Charlie would have become a doctor if he could have afforded medical school.
Like other auxiliary verbs, will and would often appear alone in sentences. In this case, they are still acting as auxiliary verbs and the main verb is omitted but still understood.
For example:
- Jack won’t be here tomorrow, but Sarah will (be).
- I can’t help you move because I am sick. Trust me, I would (help) if I could (help).
Both will and would are used to ask questions. For example:
- Will you help me clean the yard?
- Would you help me clean the yard?
In general, would is often considered to be more formal or more polite than will when asking questions because it seems less blunt or less direct. Grammatically, though, it is correct to use either one.
Verbs similar to will and would
There are two other helping verbs that act in much the same way as will and would. The past tense of the verb can is could and the past tense of the verb shall is should.
Can’t get enough? Then review this guide on can vs. could.
Examples of will and would used in a sentence
We will end our discussion by looking at a few examples that show how we typically use will and would in our sentences.
- The movie will be released internationally.
- We would have a big problem if we didn’t keep the hornets and bees in separate areas.
- Santa Claus will come back again next Christmas.
- We will never know how the author would have ended the story if they had lived to finish it.
- My old car would break down constantly, so I am going to make sure my new car will be sturdy and reliable.
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The word «would» has a few meanings and cases of use in English. Grammatically, «would» is the past form of «will». We do not put «to» before the main verb after «would» and the main verb stays in its infinitive form.
We often shorten «would» to ‘d (I’d, you’d, we’d etc.). Do not confuse the shortened versions of «would» and «had».
1. I would help you, but… — conditionals
«Would» is used in conditional sentences.
When we imagine or think of something which is not real, we use would + infinitive.
When we express regrets about something in the past, we wanted things to go otherwise, but we can’t change that anymore, we use would + have + past participle.
Examples
I would go to the cinema tonight, but I don’t have anyone to go with. (but I still can go if I find a company)
I would have gone to the cinema yesterday, but I didn’t have anyone to go with. (I regret it but I can’t change it)
John would come to the party tomorrow, but he won’t have time. (but he still can come if he has time)
John would have come to the party last week, but he didn’t have time. (he regrets it but he can’t change the past)
Diane would buy a new car, but she doesn’t have enough money. (she can still buy it if she has money)
Diane would have bought a new car last month, but she had to spend all her money on home renovation. (that happened last month so she can’t change that)
2. She said she would come — reported speech
We use «would» as the past of «will» when we need to harmonize tenses in two parts of the sentence, for example, in the reported speech.
Examples
Anne says she will come. → Anne said she would come.
I promise I will write. → He promised he would write.
They are sure they will be on time. → They were sure they would be on time.
3. He wouldn’t listen — refuse
We use «won’t» and its past form «wouldn’t» in the meaning of «not want», «refuse», «be unwilling» to do something.
Examples
I’m trying to talk to him, but he won’t listen. (= he doesn’t want to listen)
I was trying to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. (= he didn’t want to listen)
— Why are you angry? — The car won’t start. (= it «refuses» to start)
He was angry because his car wouldn’t start. (= it «refused» to start)
4. Would, used to — habits in the past
We use «would» as an analogue of «used to» when we speak about regular actions and habits in the past.
Examples
When I was younger, I would drink five cups of coffee a day. (= I used to drink…)
Do you remember? When we were kids, we would run through the field, climb the hill and hide under the big oak tree. (= we used to run…)
Pay attention!
In the examples above, we can either say «would» or «used to». But we can only say «used to» when we talk about states in the past and not physical actions.
For example
When Fred was a student, he used to have a beard. WRONG … would have a beard, because it isn’t a regular action
When we were children, we used to live in the countryside. WRONG … would live, because it isn’t a regular action
5. Would you please, I would like, would you mind — polite request and set phrases
We use «would» to make a polite request. It is also possible to use «could» (could you please…?) in the same manner.
Examples
Would you please help me?
Would you close the window, please?
Would you carry this bag, please?
«Would» is a part of some polite set phrases, like:
- I would like, would you like
- I would rather (do something)
- Would you mind (doing something)
“would” is a modal verb.
Pronunciation: /wʊd/
In this lesson, you will learn the form of would. You will also learn the many different uses and meanings:
- Past habits
- Past refusals
- Future relative to the past
- Indirect speech
- Polite offers and requests
- Conditionals
- Past unreal situations
Affirmative form
| Full form | Contracted form |
|---|---|
| I would like | I’d like |
| you would like | you’d like |
| he would like | he’d like |
| she would like | she’d like |
| it would like | it’d like |
| we would like | we’d like |
| you would like | you’d like |
| they would like | they’d like |
Negative form
| Full form | Contracted form |
|---|---|
| I would not like | I wouldn’t like |
| you would not like | you wouldn’t like |
| he would not like | he wouldn’t like |
| she would not like | she wouldn’t like |
| it would not like | it wouldn’t like |
| we would not like | we wouldn’t like |
| you would not like | you wouldn’t like |
| they would not like | they wouldn’t like |
Question form
| Full form |
|---|
| Would I like …. ? |
| Would you like …. ? |
| Would he like …. ? |
| Would she like …. ? |
| Would it like …. ? |
| Would we like …. ? |
| Would you like …. ? |
| Would they like …. ? |
Uses and meaning of “would”
Past habits
We use “would” to describe a regular activity or habit in the past. This use of “would” is very similar to “used to“.
Examples:
When Jane was at university, she would study for 3 hours every evening.
When my grandma came to visit, we would play cards every day.
Past refusals
We use would to describe a refusal from the past. (A “refusal” is the act of not wanting to do something or the act of not agreeing to do something.) This use is usually in the negative form.
Examples:
Jane was angry. She wouldn’t speak to me!
Sarah: Why are you late?
Mark: My car wouldn’t start.
Future relative to the past
We use “would” to describe an action that is in the FUTURE relative to an earlier action from the past. The action in question is therefore in the past but it is in the future relative to an earlier action. “would” is therefore a past form of “will”
To explain this, let’s first look at a normal future. Normally, the future tense is relative to the present and we use “will”:
Mark: I think that I will pass the exam.
“I think” is in the present and “I will pass” is in the future relative to the present. We use “will” (future simple)
Now let’s pretend that several days have passed. Let’s look back in time at the same situation. We say:
Mark: Last week, I thought that I would pass the exam.
“I thought” is in the past and “I would pass” is in the future relative to that past. We use “would”.
More examples:
I know that I will see you again. (with will)
I knew that I would see you again. (with would)
He’s sure that I’ll like his house. (with will in the contracted form.)
He was sure that I’d like his house. (with would in the contracted form.)
Indirect speech (Reported speech)
When we use indirect speech, we use “would” after past reporting verbs where “will” was used in direct speech.
Direct speech is when we quote the exact words said by the person and we write those words inside quotation marks. The words are therefore from the perspective of the speaker. Indirect speech (reported speech) is when we report what the person said without necessarily using the exact words used by the person. It’s from our perspective.
When the reporting verb (“say”, “reply”, “shout” etc) is in the PAST form, we transform the word “will” from the direct speech into “would” in the indirect speech version. This is a similar application of the “future” relative to the past” use described above.
Examples:
Direct speech:
Mark said, “I will go to London.”
Indirect speech:
Mark said that he would go to London.
Direct speech:
Jane said, “I will help you.”
Indirect speech:
Jane said that she would help me.
Polite offers and requests
We use “would” to make polite offers and requests.
Would you like a glass of orange juice?
Would you help me carry my bags?
Would you close the door please?
Notice that these are in the question form.
Conditionals
We use would in conditionals to describe unreal situations.
Second conditionals
The second conditional describes an unreal situation in the present.
Example:
If I had a car, I would drive to Paris.
Third conditionals
The second conditional describes an unreal situation in the past.
Example:
If I had known her, I would have introduced you to her.
Video lessons explaining conditionals
I have several video lessons on my YouTube channel that explain conditionals. Here are the links:
Introduction to conditionals (video)
Zero conditionals (video)
First conditionals (video)
Second conditionals (video)
Third conditionals (video)
Unreal situations in the past
We use “would” to describe unreal situations in the past that are not necessarily conditionals.
Form:
“would” + “have” + past participle
Note that “have” + past participle is called a perfect infinitive.
Examples:
would have lived
Jane: Why did you live in Manchester?
Mark: Well I would have lived in London but it was too expensive.
(This is an unreal situation because Mark did not in fact live in London. In the above sentence he is explaining why.)
would have studied
I would have studied law but I chose medicine instead.
Other lessons
Modal verb COULD – Form, use and meaning
3 ways to use the word BUSY
Present perfect verb tense in English
Future simple tense – will and shall
How to express change in English
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Too often I hear or even read examples of the following incorrect usages of the word «would» but I’m at a loss to explain the grammatical points in play. I would appreciate a brief tutorial on the use of the word «would» as used in the following manner:(1) «I wish I would have» [instead of «I wish I had»]and(2) «if he would have done it differently» [instead of «if he had done it differently»]
In each case the use of «would» in the sentence is superfluous and redundant, but what, grammaticaly, is wrong with using «would» instead of simply using the past perfect participle or (if I have it right) the future perfect participle?
I hear it and read it often but can’t explain the actual grammatical error involved.
I am in America, and the phenomenon of this usage has grown apace the past couple of decades, from media reinforcement it has seemed to me. I know there are clearcut rules on this issue.
Can someone help with this?
lime candle 824(1) «I wish I would have» [instead of «I wish I had»]and(2) «if he would have done it differently» [instead of «if he had done it differently»]
Both are wrong, and you have provided the correction in each case. It is simply a matter of the unusual grammar of the verb ‘wish’.
English speakers do not always speak flawless English, and we tend to repeat what we hear — right or wrong — if we hear it enough times. Thus, combinations like «I wish I would have» proliferate.
CJ
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