Is the word would past tense

The word ‘would’ is one of the modal auxiliary verbs in English language. Let us explore how ‘would’ is used in past tense.

‘Would’ is a modal auxiliary verb that is used along with the main verb in a sentence. ‘Would’ is the past tense of the modal verb ‘will’ and can be utilized to show or denote preferences, wishes, desires, opinions, possibilities, imaginary situations and so on.

We shall explore about the modal verb ‘would’ in past tense with the aid of 7 facts you should know.

Can the auxiliary verb “would” be used in past tense?

We shall here find out whether the auxiliary verb ‘would’ can be used in past tense.

The auxiliary verb ‘would’ can definitely be used in the past tense and so the answer to the above question is an obvious yes.

Example:

Ramesh would have been the topper of his class if he had not got hurt in his leg before his last test.

In this sentence, the modal auxiliary verb ‘would’ is used in the past tense as Ramesh getting hurt in his leg was in the past and he could not top his tests which were also conducted sometime in the past.

How the auxiliary verb “would” is used in past tense?

As we know the auxiliary verb ‘would’ is nothing but the past tense of the auxiliary verb ‘will’, we will also get to know how ‘would’ is used in past.

The modal auxiliary verb ‘would’ is used in the past tense by placing it right before the main verb of the sentence. ‘Would’ is used in its actual form without any morphological or phonetic changes. It is used by placing a conditional clause before or after the clause in which it appears.

Example:

I would have caught the kite, if I had climbed to the terrace.

Here, the subject ‘I’ talks about an incident that has happened in the past in which he / she did not catch the kite. This was because he had not climbed to the terrace before he thought of catching the kite.

When the auxiliary verb “would” is used in past tense?

There are particular situations where the word ‘would’ is used in the past tense. We will here discuss about when ‘would’ is used in past tense.

The modal auxiliary verb ‘would’ is used when we describe a possible action that would have occurred or been done in the event of another action happening, prior to the former one.

Example:

If not for the advice from Dinesh, Raj would have sold the property at a lower price.

In the above sentence, Raj selling the property is an event in the past and the time of advice of Dinesh is also in the past. This sentence is used to describe a possible action that would have occurred (of Raj selling the property at a lower price) in the event of another action happening (if Dinesh had not advised Raj).

Why the auxiliary verb “would” is used in past tense?

There must definitely be a reason why the auxiliary verb ‘would’ is used in the past tense. Let us now see that reason.

The auxiliary verb ‘would’ is used in the past tense as it is the best and structurally accurate way to indicate the possibility of an event that would have happened if another event had /had not happened prior to it.

Example:

They would have gone for a picnic if it had not rained.

Here, in the above sentence, using the auxiliary ‘would’ to denote the action of going to a picnic is the best way to indicate the possible event if another event (of raining) had not happened.

Formula and structure of would used in past tense

We will get to know the particular way (format, formula or structure) in which the auxiliary verb ‘would’ must be used to denote the past tense.

A conditional + subject noun / pronoun + (had + verb + past participle) + (subject noun / pronoun) WOULD + (have + verb + past participle) + object noun / pronoun

Example:

If Nithya had studied science, she would have been a scientist.

Here, the structure of the sentence is If (conditional) + Nithya (Subject noun) + had studied (had + past participle of study) + she (Subject pronoun) + WOULD (to denote past tense) + have been (have + past participle of be) + a scientist (Object noun).

Examples of would used in past tense

Here we shall see few example sentences where the auxiliary verb ‘would’ is used in past tense and their related explanations.

The examples and explanations of the auxiliary verb ‘would’ used in past tense are,

Examples Explanations
1. If not for the new law, Deep would not have lost his business. From this sentence, we come to know that Deep had his business before the new law was passed. Both Deep’s business and the passing of the law are actions which are completed in the past.
2. You would have finished the test in time if you had not dozed off. The use of the auxiliary verb ‘would’ here denotes that the actions of both not completing the test and sleeping during the test were performed by the subject ‘you’ sometime in the past.
3. If he had missed his plane, Pichai would not have been in Google now. The modal auxiliary verb ‘would’ is used here because the event of Pichai catching the flight has led him to join Google eventually both actions were done in the past.
4. My friend, Sujith, would have played for India, if he had not injured himself. The auxiliary verb ‘would’ used here indicates that the time Sujith injured himself and the time when he would have joined the Indian team were in the past.
5. If the traveler had possessed a map, he would not have lost his way into the jungle. The use of the auxiliary verb ‘would’ here shows us that the actions of the traveler not having a map and he getting lost into the jungle happened sometime in the past.
6. If people did not have good and profitable ideas, startups would not have come up. The modal auxiliary verb ‘would’ is utilized here to indicate the presence of good and profitable ideas and the coming up of startups which are both events of the past.
7. Gandhi would not have been Mahatma, if he had not been thrown out of the train. The usage of modal auxiliary verb ‘would’ here shows that event of Gandhi being termed as Mahatma and the event of Gandhi being thrown out of the train has both occurred in the past.
8. The library would have been constructed by now, if not for the lack of funds. The presence of the modal auxiliary verb ‘would’ in this sentence is to denote the cease in the construction of the library and also the presence of funds both of which are occurrences of the past.
‘Would’ In Past Tense Examples

Conclusion

Thus from the above article we have come to know that the auxiliary verb ‘would’ can be used in the past to denote the probability of an event happening as the outcome of another event, both of which are in the past.

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Asked by: Myrna Wisozk

Score: 4.5/5
(67 votes)

Would is an auxiliary verb — a modal auxiliary verb. We use would mainly to: talk about the past.
…
Using the same conditional structure, we often use would when giving advice:

  1. I wouldn’t eat that if I were you.
  2. If I were in your place I’d refuse.
  3. If you asked me I would say you should go.

HOW use would in a sentence?

Using would as as a kind of past tense of will or going to is common in reported speech:

  1. She said that she would buy some eggs. («I will buy some eggs.»)
  2. The candidate said that he wouldn’t increase taxes. («I won’t increase taxes.»)
  3. Why didn’t you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! («It’s going to rain.»)

Where do we use will and would?

The main difference between will and would is that will is used for real possibilities while would is used for imagined situations in the future.

Will and would in a sentence?

Firstly, the word would is the past tense form of the word will. Jack said he would finish the work the next day. Ann said she would write us soon. He hoped she would come.

What is would grammar?

‘Would’ has quite a lot of different uses. It’s often a kind of past tense version of ‘will’. Remember that both ‘had’ and ‘would’ can be shorted to ‘d. But only ‘would’ is followed by an infinitive without ‘to’. ‘Had’ is followed by a past participle or by ‘to + infinitive’.

28 related questions found

Will and would grammar exercises?

Answers

  • I will come if I have time.
  • Would you like some tea?
  • I promise, I will quit smoking.
  • ‘There is the doorbell. ‘ ‘I will go. ‘
  • I didn’t expect that I would fail the test.
  • If I knew that you were in trouble, I would help you.
  • I hope I will get the job.
  • I would wake up early if there was a good reason to.

Can we use would for future?

We have this in the past tense, simple past tense and then, in that past tense thought, we have some idea about the future and we use Would to express that idea about the future. Let’s look at some examples of this though. Here, I knew you would help me. … So we can use Would to talk about future but in the past.

When Could is used?

When could is used as the past tense of can, it refers to an ability that a person generally had in the past or to something that was generally possible in the past («When I was younger, I could run for miles,» or «It used to be you could buy lunch for a dollar.»).

Where is should used?

We use should mainly to: give advice or make recommendations. talk about obligation. talk about probability and expectation.

Is would a present tense?

Technically, would is the past tense of will, but it is an auxiliary verb that has many uses, some of which even express the present tense.

When should we use should?

‘Should’ can be used:

  1. To express something that is probable. Examples: “John should be here by 2:00 PM.” “He should be bringing Jennifer with him.
  2. To ask questions. Examples: “Should we turn left at this street?” …
  3. To show obligation, give recommendation or even an opinion. Examples: “You should stop eating fast food.”

Could Can examples?

As a past tense form of the verb can, could is used to express general ability in past tense and indirect speech. Examples: He said he could get that ticket for me. When I was younger, I could work out for two hours without stopping.

Which is correct would be or will be?

‘Will be’ is used in situations of certainty and possibility. ‘Would be’ is used in most imaginary situations. ‘Will be’ is used to describe actions that are still in practice, whereas ‘would be’ is used to talk about habits that once were regular but are no more in practice.

What you mean by would be?

: desiring, intending, professing, or having the potential to be a would-be actor.

What word can I use instead of would?

synonyms for would

  • authorize.
  • bid.
  • decree.
  • enjoin.
  • exert.
  • intend.
  • request.
  • resolve.

Can you vs Will you?

‘Can’ is a helping verb, whereas ‘Will’ is a verb or, at times, noun. ‘Will’ is also used while ordering, and ‘Can’ is used while taking permission or being polite. The auxiliary verb ‘will’ is used to express something that is going to happen in the future.

Can or could you please?

1 Answer. If taken literally, «Can you» is equivalent to asking the person if they’re capable of doing something. «Could you», on the other hand, implies that the action can be completed under some circumstances by the person. The usage of can you is idiomatic, and hence, is more popular used phrase of the two.

Could is used for polite request?

Could and May

A third modal for making polite requests is could. For example, “Could I please have some water?” Could is the past tense of can. However, when asking for permission, could does not have a past tense meaning. Could has the same meaning as may when making requests.

Will is past or future?

Will is used for the future, but also for the present

Many people consider will to be the present form (its past form is would), and like all present forms, it can be used to talk about the present or future.

What are examples of future tense?

Future Tense Examples

  • I will give a speech in the program.
  • Robert will be going to the varsity.
  • Tom will have reached the place by now.
  • I will be singing modern songs in the program.
  • I will help you to do the project.
  • Alice will assist you in this case.
  • We will have reached home before you come.

Would to talk about the future?

We often use verbs like would like, plan, want, mean, hope, expect to talk about the future: What are you going to do next year? I’d like to go to university. We plan to go to France for our holidays.

Will V would?

Will can be a present tense verb that means to cause something to happen through force of desire. … Would is a past tense form of will. It is also a conditional verb that indicates an action that would happen under certain conditions.

Will grammar rules?

Grammar rules for using “will” in English

“Will” is a modal auxiliary verb, meaning that there is no “s” on the third person singular conjugations. The main verb in the sentence is in the infinitive form (without “to”). The negative form is “will not” which is usually contracted in spoken English and we say “won’t”.

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‘I would love to travel the world.’

would for unreal situations

The word would is used for unreal or imagined situations:
‘I would love to visit New York.’
‘She would like to be professional footballer.’
‘We would go, but we are too busy.’

would as a past tense

would and wouldn’t are the past tense of will and won’t. Let’s look at an example of this using direct and reported speech:
Andrew: ‘I will be late.’ (direct speech)
‘Andrew said that he would be late.’(reported speech)

would in conditional sentences

Would is used again for unreal or hypothetical situations in the 2nd and 3rd conditionals:
2nd Conditional: ‘If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.’
3rd Conditional: ‘If I had worked harder, I would have passed the test.’

would not as ‘to refuse’

Wouldn’t (would not) is used to show that someone refused to do something:

‘I asked him if I could borrow his car, but he wouldn’t lend it to me.’

would for past actions

Would can be used to talk about actions that repeated in the past. It is used in the same context as used to:
‘When I was young I would do my homework every evening.’
‘In the summer we would always go camping.’

Using ‘wish’ for past regrets

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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)
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Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

  • wou’d (obsolete)

Etymology[edit]

From Old English wolde, past tense of willan.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (stressed)
    • (UK, US, General Australian) IPA(key): /wʊd/
    • Rhymes: -ʊd
    • (obsolete) IPA(key): /wʊld/, /wuːld/
  • (unstressed)
    • (UK, US, General Australian) IPA(key): /wəd/, /əd/
  • Homophones: wood

Verb[edit]

would

  1. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.
    1. Used to form the «anterior future», or «future in the past», indicating a futurity relative to a past time. [from 9th c.]

      On my first day at University, I met the woman who would become my wife.

      • 1867, Anthony Trollope, Last Chronicle of Barset, Ch.28:
        That her Lily should have been won and not worn, had been, and would be, a trouble to her for ever.

      • 1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter I, in The Lodger, London: Methuen, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0056:

        Thanks to that penny he had just spent so recklessly [on a newspaper] he would pass a happy hour, taken, for once, out of his anxious, despondent, miserable self. It irritated him shrewdly to know that these moments of respite from carking care would not be shared with his poor wife, with careworn, troubled Ellen.

      • 2011 November 5, Phil Dawkes, “QPR 2-3 Man City”, in BBC Sport:

        Toure would have the decisive say though, rising high to power a header past Kenny from Aleksandar Kolarov’s cross.

    2. Used to; was or were habitually accustomed to; indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly. [from 9th c.]
      When we were younger, we would cycle out to the beach most summer Sundays.

      • 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 46:

        No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.

      • 2009, «Soundtrack of my life», The Guardian, 15 March:
        When we were kids we would sit by the radio with a tape recorder on a Sunday, listening out for the chart songs we wanted to have.
    3. Was or were determined to; indicating someone’s insistence upon doing something. [from 18th c.]

      I asked her to stay in with me, but she would go out.

      • 1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], chapter V, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC:

        Then he took to breeding silk-worms, which he would bring in two or three times a day, in little paper boxes, to show the old lady […].

    4. Could naturally have been expected to (given the tendencies of someone’s character etc.). [from 18th c.]

      He denied it, but then he would, wouldn’t he?

      • 2009, «Is the era of free news over?», The Observer, 10 May:
        The free access model, the media magnate said last week, was «malfunctioning». Well he would, wouldn’t he?
    5. (archaic) Wanted to. [from 9th c.]

      • 1490, William Caxton, Prologue to Eneydos:

        And thenne at laste a-nother sayd that he wolde have eyren. Then the good wyf sayd that she understod hym wel.

      • 1852, James Murdock, trans. Johann Lorenz Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, II.7.iii:
        The Greeks, especially those who would be thought adepts in mystic theology, ran after fantastic allegories […].
    6. (archaic) Used with ellipsis of the infinitive verb, or postponement to a relative clause, in various senses. [from 9th c.]
      • 1694, John Strype, Memorials of The Most Reverend Father in God, Thomas Cranmer, Appendix page 68 [1]
        At which time he told me, he would to London that week, and so to Oxford.
      • 1724, Daniel Defoe, Roxana, Penguin p.107:
        He sat as one astonish’d, a good-while, looking at me, without speaking a Word, till I came quite up to him, kneel’d on one Knee to him, and almost whether he would or no, kiss’d his Hand […].

      • 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

        ‘I thank thee, oh Ayesha,’ I replied, with as much dignity as I could command, ‘but if there be such a place as thou dost describe, and if in this strange place there may be found a fiery virtue that can hold off Death when he comes to pluck us by the hand, yet would I none of it.’

    7. (obsolete) Wished, desired (something). [9th–19th c.]
  2. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.
    1. Used as the auxiliary of the simple conditional modality, indicating a state or action that is conditional on another. [from 9th c.]

      If I won the lottery, I would give half the money to charity.

      • 1846, «A New Sentimental Journey», Blackwoods Magazine, vol.LX, no.372:
        If I could fly, I would away to those realms of light and warmth – far, far away in the southern clime […].
      • 2010, The Guardian, 26 February:
        Warnock admitted it would be the ideal scenario if he received a Carling Cup winners’ medal as well as an England call-up […].
    2. Without explicit condition, or with loose or vague implied condition, indicating a hypothetical or imagined state or action.

      I would love to come and visit.

      Look at that yummy cake! I would eat that all up!

      • 2008, Mark Cocker, «Country Diary», The Guardian, 3 November:
        It’s a piece of old folklore for which I would love to find hard proof.
    3. Suggesting conditionality or potentiality in order to express a sense of politeness, tentativeness, indirectness, hesitancy, uncertainty, etc. [from 9th c.]

      I would ask you all to sit down.

      I would imagine that they have already left.

      • 2009, Nick Snow, The Rocket’s Trail, p.112:
        “Those trials are being run by the American army so surely you must have access to the documents?” “Well, yeah, you’d think.”
      • 2010, Terry Pratchett, «My case for a euthanasia tribunal», The Guardian, 2 February:
        Departing on schedule with the help of a friendly doctor was quite usual. Does that still apply? It would seem so.
    4. Used to express what the speaker would do in another person’s situation, as a means of giving a suggestion or recommendation.
      It’s disgraceful the way that they’ve treated you. I would write and complain.
    5. Used to express the speaker’s belief or assumption.

      He’s very security-conscious, so he would have remembered to lock the door.

      They would be arriving in London round about now.

    6. Used interrogatively to express a polite request; are (you) willing to …? [from 15th c.]

      Would you pass the salt, please?

    7. (chiefly archaic) Might wish (+ verb in past subjunctive); often used in the first person (with or without that) in the sense of «if only». [from 13th c.]

      • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:

        KING HENRY
        Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?
        WESTMORELAND
        God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone,
        Without more help, could fight this royal battle!

      • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas, […], 1928, →OCLC:

        I presently wished, would that I had been in their clothes! would that I had been born Peter! would that I had been born John!

      • 1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:

        I would she had retained her original haughtiness of disposition, or that I had a larger share of Front-de-Bœuf’s thrice-tempered hardness of heart!

      • 1912, Philostratus, Life of Apollonius of Tyana, translated by F. C. Conybeare (Loeb Classical Library), 8.16:
        But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: «Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival.»
    8. (chiefly archaic, transitive or control verb) Might desire; wish (something). [from 15th c.]

      • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:

Usage notes[edit]

  • As an auxiliary verb, would is followed by the bare infinitive (without to):
    John said he would have fish for dinner.
  • Would is frequently contracted to ‘d, especially after a pronoun (as in I’d, you’d, and so on).
  • The term would-be retains the senses of both desire and potentiality (those of wannabe and might-be, respectively).
  • Indicating a wish, would takes a clause in the past subjunctive (irrealis) mood; this clause may or may not be introduced with that. Most commonly in modern usage, it is followed by the adverb rather, as in I would rather that he go now. A call to a deity or other higher power is sometimes interposed after would and before the subjunctive clause, as in Would to God that […] ; see the citations page for examples.
  • When used, mainly archaically, in the sense of «if only», the first-person subject pronoun is often omitted.

Synonyms[edit]

  • (indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly): used to
  • (used to express a polite request): be so good as to, kindly, please

[edit]

  • will — present tense of would
  • wouldn’t — negative of would
  • wouldst — archaic second person singular form of would
  • would like
  • would’ve

Translations[edit]

Note: many languages express some meanings of would using a mood or tense rather than by a particular word.

indicating an action or state that is conditional on another

  • Arabic: Use the conditional tense
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the windows!— !سنكون أكثر دفئًا إذا لم تفتح النافذة
  • Assamese: হেঁতেন (hẽten), হয় (hoy)
  • Bulgarian: please add this translation if you can
  • Catalan: Use the conditional tense
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Estariem més calents si no haguessis obert la finestra!
  • Czech: Use conditional tense of být (cs) + infinitive
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Bylo by nám tepleji, kdybyste neotevřeli okno!
  • Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — We zouden warmer zijn als je het raam niet had geopend!
  • Esperanto: Use the conditional tense
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Ni estus pli varmaj se vi ne malfermus la fenestron!
  • Finnish: Use the conditional mood
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Meillä olisi lämpimämpää, jos et olisi avannut ikkunaa!
  • French: Use the conditional tense
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Nous aurions plus chaud si tu n’avais pas ouvert la fenêtre !
  • Georgian: please add this translation if you can
  • German: Use the subjunctive mood or «würde + infinitive
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Uns wäre wärmer, wenn du das Fenster nicht geöffnet hättest!
  • Greek:
    Ancient: Use the optative mood + ἄν (án)
  • Hungarian: Use the conditional tense, -na/-ne/-ná/-né
    • It would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Melegebb volna, ha nem nyitottad volna ki az ablakot!
  • Italian: Use the conditional tense
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Staremmo più al caldo se tu non avessi aperto la finestra!
  • Latin: Use the imperfect subjunctive
    • We hoped (that) the slave would carry the wine. — Sperabamus ut servus vinum portaret.
  • Old Assamese: হন্তে (honte)
  • Polish: Use the conditional tense (-by-), by (pl)
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Byłoby nam cieplej, gdybyś nie otworzył okna!
  • Portuguese: use the conditional tense
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Estaríamos sentindo mais calor se não tivesses aberto a janela!
  • Romanian: Use the conditional tense of avea + infinitive, avea (ro)
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Ne-ar fi mai cald dacă n-ai fi deschis fereastra!
  • Russian: Use the conditional tense (бы)
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Нам было бы теплее, если бы ты не открыл окно!
  • Spanish: Use the conditional tense
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — ¡Tendríamos más calor si no hubieras abierto la ventana!
  • Swedish: skulle (sv)
    • We would be warmer if you hadn’t opened the window! — Vi skulle vara varmare om du inte hade öppnat fönstret!
  • Turkish: please add this translation if you can

indicating a possible (but not definite) future action or state

  • Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
    • We sat on the bench asking ourselves if the bus would be too late this time. — We zaten op de bank ons afvragend of de bus deze keer te laat zou zijn.
  • Esperanto: Use the future tense
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Ni sidis sur la benko nin demandante, ĉu la buso malfruos ĉi tiun fojon.
  • Finnish: Use the conditional mood
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Istuimme rannalla miettien, tulisiko linja-auto tämän kerran myöhässä.
  • French: Use the conditional tense
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Nous nous assîmes sur le banc, nous demandant si l’autobus serait en retard cette fois.
  • German: Use the subjunctive mood
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Wir saßen auf der Bank und fragten uns, ob der Bus diesmal zu spät käme.
  • Hungarian: Use the future or present tense with -e
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — A padon ültünk, és azon gondolkoztunk, hogy ezúttal elkésik-e a busz.
  • Italian: Use the conditional perfect tense
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Ci sedemmo sulla panchina, domandandoci se il bus sarebbe in ritardo questa volta.
  • Portuguese: Use the conditional tense (futuro do pretérito)
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Sentamo

-nos ao banco, perguntando-nos se o ônibus/autocarro chegaria tarde desta vez.

  • Russian: Use the future tense with (ли)
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Мы сидели на скамейке и гадали, опоздает ли автобус.
  • Spanish: conditional tense
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Nos sentamos en el banco, preguntándonos si el autobús llegaría tarde esta vez
  • Swedish: skulle (sv)
    • We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. — Vi satt på bänken och undrade om bussen skulle bli sen den här gången.

indicating an action in the past that was planned or intended

  • Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
    • The waiter said that he would be right back. — De ober zei dat hij meteen terug zou keren.
  • Esperanto: Use the future tense
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — La kelnero diris, ke li tuj revenos.
  • Finnish: Use the present tense or omit the subject and use the active present participle with a possessive suffix congruent with the subject
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — Tarjoilija sanoi, että hän palaa pian. / Tarjoilija sanoi palaavansa pian.
  • French: Use the conditional tense
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — Le garçon dit qu’il reviendrait tout de suite.
  • German: Use either the Subjunctive I or II form of the verb, or würde + infinitive
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — Der Kellner sagte, er sei sofort wieder da.
  • Hungarian: Use the future or present tense
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — A pincér azt mondta, hogy mindjárt visszajön.
  • Italian: Use the conditional perfect tense
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — Il cameriere disse che ritornerebbe subito.
  • Portuguese: Use the conditional tense
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — O garçom disse que retornaria logo.
  • Russian: Use the future tense
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — Официант сказал, что скоро вернется.
  • Spanish: conditional tense
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — El camarero dijo que volvería enseguida.
  • Swedish: skulle (sv)
    • The waiter said he would be right back. — Kyparen sa att han strax skulle komma tillbaka.

indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly

  • Dutch: Use the past tense with voorheen or vroeger
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — ‘s winters zaten we vroeger bij het gat in het bevroren meer en visten we urenlang.
  • Esperanto: Use antaŭe and the past tense
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — En la vintro, ni antaŭe sidis apud la truo sur la frostiĝinta lago kaj antaŭe fiŝkaptis dum horoj.
  • Finnish: Use the adessive case with the construction oli tapana
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — Talvisin meillä oli tapana istua jäisen järven avannon vieressä ja kalastaa tuntikausia.
  • French: Use the imperfect tense
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — En hiver, nous nous asseyions près du trou sur le lac gelé et pêchions pendant des heures.
  • German: Use the preterite tense and immer for emphasis on the repetitive nature
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — Winters saßen wir immer um das Loch auf dem zugefrorenen See und angelten stundenlang.
  • Greek:
    Ancient: Use imperfect tense alone or past tense with ἄν (án)
  • Hungarian: Use the past tense
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — Minden télen órákat ültünk a jégen a lyuk mellett, és halásztunk.
  • Italian: Use the imperfect tense
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — D’inverno, ci sedevamo presso il buco sul lago ghiacciato e pescavamo per ore.
  • Portuguese: Use the imperfect tense
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — No inverno, sentávamo-nos perto do buraco no lago congelado e pescávamos por horas.
  • Russian: Use the past tense of the verb in the imperfective aspect
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — Зимой мы сидели у лунки на замерзшем озере и часами рыбачили.
  • Spanish: Use of the imperfect tense
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — En invierno, nos sentábamos cerca del agujero en el lago congelado y pescábamos durante horas.
  • Swedish: Use ‘brukade’ and the infinitive of the verb
    • In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. — På vintrarna brukade vi sitta vid vaken i den frusna sjön och brukade fiska i flera timmar.

used to express a polite request

  • Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen), gelieve
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — Zou u a.u.b. de TV kunnen uitzetten, Gelieve de TV uit te schakelen, a.u.b.
  • Esperanto: bonvoli
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — Bonvolu malŝalti la televidon, mi petas?
  • Finnish: Use the conditional
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — Sulkisitko television?
  • French: vouloir (fr), veuillez (fr), pouvoir (fr) (imperative)
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — Pourrais-tu éteindre la télé, s’il te plaît? (informal); Pourriez-vous / Veuillez éteindre la télévision, s’il vous plaît? (formal)
  • German: Use the conditional paraphrase employing würden
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — Würden Sie bitte den Fernseher ausschalten?
  • Hungarian: Use the conditional
    • Would you please turn off the TV? Kikapcsolnád a tv-t? / Megtennéd, hogy kikapcsolod a tv-t?
  • Italian: volere (it)
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — Vuoi spegnere la tivù, per favore? (infomal); Vuole spegnere la televisione, per favore? (formal)
  • Portuguese: por favor (pt)
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — Podes desligar a televisão/TV, por favor? (informal); Poderia desligar a televisão, por favor? (formal); Faria a gentileza de desligar a televisão, por favor? (very formal)
  • Russian: Use the conditional parafrase with negative or imperative with пожалуйста
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — Телевизор не выключите?, Выключите, пожалуйста, телевизор.
  • Spanish: por favor (es)
    • Would you please turn off the TV? — ¿Podrías apagar la televisión/telé, por favor? (infomal); ¿Podría usted apagar la televisión, por favor? (formal); Me haría el favor de apagar la televisión, por favor? (very formal)

Noun[edit]

would (plural woulds)

  1. Something that would happen, or would be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.

    • 1996, Fred Shoemaker, Extraordinary Golf: The Art of the Possible, page 88:

      When the golf ball is there, the whole self-interference package — the hopes, worries, and fears; the thoughts on how-to and how-not-to; the woulds, the coulds, and the shoulds — is there too.

    • 2010, Shushona Novos, The Personal Universal: A Guidebook for Spiritual Evolution, page 395:

      Shushona you must learn to rightfully prioritize all the woulds, shoulds and coulds of your life.

See also[edit]

  • could
  • should
  • Appendix:English modal verbs
  • Appendix:English tag questions
  • Modal verbs on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Categories:

  • English terms inherited from Old English
  • English terms derived from Old English
  • English 1-syllable words
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  • Rhymes:English/ʊd
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