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
The basic structure for would is:
| subject | + | auxiliary verb would |
+ | main verb |
Note that:
- The auxiliary verb would is invariable. There is only one form: would
- The main verb is usually in the base form (He would go).
Look at the basic structure again, with positive, negative and question sentences:
| subject | auxiliary would |
not | main verb base |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| + | I | would | like | tea. | |
| — | She | would | not | go. | |
| ? | Would | you | help? |
Note that the main verb is sometimes in the form:
- have + past participle (He would have gone)
- be + -ing (He would be going)
The main verb cannot be the to-infinitive. We cannot say: He would to like coffee.
Be careful! Note that would and had have the same short form ‘d:
He’d finished = He had finished
He’d like coffee = He would like coffee
Use of would
would for 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 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’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 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?)
would for 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 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 possibility or probability
- remoteness between speakers (formality, politeness)
would for 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 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.
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)
Сегодня для изучения темы нам потребуется воображение. Зачем, спросите вы? Об этом вы узнаете уже через несколько минут. А сейчас, не будем терять время и приступим к изучению темы — would, правила употребления в английском языке. По традиции, начнем с примера.
I would love to have a car. But it’s too expensive. (Я хотел бы иметь машину. Но это слишком дорого)
Модальный глагол Would — образование предложений
Прежде чем перейти к употреблению would в английском языке, давайте рассмотрим, как образуются предложения с данным глаголом.
Утвердительные предложения:
Подлежащее + would + глагол в первой форме.
Вопросительные предложения:
Would + Подлежащее + глагол в первой форме?
Отрицательные предложения:
Подлежащее + would + not + глагол в первой форме.
Часто модальный глагол would сокращается до ‘d — I’d, you’d, we’d.
А теперь переходим к употреблению would в английском языке.
Would, правила употребления в английском языке
Мы используем модальный глагол would для воображаемых действий и ситуаций. Аналогом в русском языке служит частица «бы».
Примеры
- I’d like to have a dog. (Я хотел бы иметь собаку);
- I would never eat a slug. (Я бы никогда не съел личинку);
- What would you do in my position? (Что бы ты сделал на моем месте?);
- I wouldn’ t do anything. (Я бы ничего не делал).
Подобно другим модальным глаголам (could, can, may, might), модальный глагол would может употребляться в прошедшем времени.
Для этого используется вспомогательный глагол have.
Мы используем конструкцию would have для воображаемых событий или действий в прошлом, которые не произошли.
Примеры
- We went to a restaurant yesterday. The food was so delicious. You would have liked it. (Вчера мы ходили в ресторан. Еда была великолепна. Тебе бы понравилось);
- You made such a mess in your room. Your mother wouldn’t have been pleased. (Ты устроил такой беспорядок у себя в комнате. Твоей маме это бы не понравилось);
- I was in a hurry and didn’t see you. Otherwise I would’ve stopped. (Я спешил и не заметил тебя. Так бы я остановился).
Would и Will
Would может выступать формой прошедшего времени от will. Как правило, это используется в косвенной речи.
- Sara said, «I’ll call you tomorrow». (Сара говорит: -Я позвоню тебе завтра.);
- Sara said she would call me tomorrow. (Сара сказала, что позвонит мне завтра);
- Why did you tell everyone about our secret. You promised you wouldn’t tell anybody. (Зачем ты всем рассказал о нашем секрете. Ты обещал не рассказывать).
Wouldn’t do
Мы используем wouldn’t, чтобы показать, что кто-то или что-то наотрез отказывался что-то делать.
- I was late to work yesterday. My car just wouldn’ t start. (Я вчера опоздал на работу. Моя машина просто отказывалась заводиться);
- I tried to talk to him. But he wouldn’t listen. (Я пытался с ним поговорить. Но он никак не слушал).
Would и used to
Мы можем употреблять модальный глагол would для описания событий, которые регулярно повторялись в прошлом. В данном контексте would очень схож с конструкцией used to.
Примеры
- We used to go to the beach a lot when we were children. We would spend there all day long. (Когда мы были детьми, мы ходили на пляж. Мы проводили там весь день);
- Harry was always friendly. Whenever I met him he would say hello and shake my hand. (Гарри всегда был дружелюбным. Всякий раз, когда я его встречал, он всегда здоровался и дал мне руку).
Would, правила употребления -тест на закрепление
Глагол will (would — в прошедшем времени) — является одним из самых употребительных глаголов в английском языке и служит в большинстве случаев для построения форм будущего времени.
Глагол will имеет только две формы: will и would. Обе формы не являются смысловыми глаголами, то есть сами по себе не обозначают какое-то действие, а поэтому вне контекста не переводятся.
Читайте также:
- Глагол в английском языке — общие сведения.
- Все времена глагола в таблицах.
Содержание:
- Вспомогательный глаголы will (would).
- Модальный глагол will (would).
- Will и Shall.
- Will или Going to?
Глагол will может использоваться как вспомогательный и модальный.
В качестве вспомогательного, глагол will/would нужен в двух случаях: для построения будущего времени и условных предложений. Глагол выполняет чисто техническую, вспомогательную функцию построения грамматической конструкции, не добавляя в предложение особого смысла или эмоционального оттенка.
1. Образование будущего времени
Вспомогательный глагол will используется для образования будущего форм времени всех видовременных форм глагола, самый простой пример — Future Simple, простое будущее время. Will ставится перед смысловым глаголом, который в простом будущем времени используется в начальной форме, без окончаний.
He will move to the capital. — Он скоро переедет в столицу.
I will come to see you tomorrow. — Я приду навестить тебя завтра.
Глагол would используется для образования формы «будущее в прошедшем» (Future in the Past).
He said that he would move to the capital soon. — Он сказал, что скоро переедет в столицу.
I said that I would come to see you. — Я сказал, что приду навестить тебя.
2. Образование условных предложений
Подробнее об условных предложениях читайте здесь: https://langformula.ru/english-grammar/conditional.
Глагол will используется в условных предложениях первого типа:
If I find the phone number, I will call him. — Если найду номер телефона, я ему позвоню.
If you help me, I will not forget it. — Если ты поможешь мне, я не забуду этого.
Глагол would нужен для построения форм сослагательного наклонения в условных предложениях второго и третьего типа:
If I were you, I would think twice. — Я бы на твоем месте подумал дважды. (второй тип)
If you had betrayed me, I would have not forgiven you. — Если бы ты меня предал, я бы не простил тебя. (третий тип)
Модальный глагол WILL
В отличие от вспомогательного, модальный глагол will добавляет к высказыванию отношение говорящего к действию. Иначе говоря, здесь речь идет не просто о будущем времени, а о придаче выражению эмоциональной окраски.
1. Решимость, уверенность в совершении действия.
I will take what is mine. — Я заберу то, что принадлежит мне.
I will not surrender. — Я не сдамся.
2. Уверенность в совершении действия другим лицом, угроза.
You will release the prisoners. — Вы отпустите пленников.
You will accept our offer. — Вы примите наше предложение.
They will give us what we want. — Они отдадут нам то, что мы хотим.
3. Вежливая просьба или вопрос, просьба в вопросительной форме.
Will you write your name here? — Не могли бы вы написать ваше имя здесь?
Will you give me a hand? — Не мог бы ты мне помочь?
Will you marry me? — Ты выйдешь за меня замуж?
Вопросы можно задать и с would — они будут звучать мягче, вежливее и с меньшей уверенностью.
Would you help me with my car? — Ты не мог бы помочь мне с моей машиной?
4. В отрицательных предложениях — упорство в совершении действия.
This man will not stop. — Этот человек все никак не остановится.
The window will not open. — Окно все никак не откроется.
5. Упорное нежелание чего-то делать в прошлом
Это значение присуще только прошедшему времени, поэтому используется would.
I told you you not to take my car but you wouldn’t listen! — Я же говорил тебе не брать мою машину, но ты же не слушал!
Why she had to go? I don’t know, she wouldn’t say. — Почему она должна была уйти? Я не знаю, она бы ни за что не сказала.
6. Повторяющееся действие в прошлом (с глаголом would)
В таких выражениях часто присутствует оттенок ностальгии.
That old actor would sit and rewatch his old movies for hours. — Этот старый актер частенько сидел и пересматривал свои старые фильмы часами.
Will и Shall
В старых учебниках английского можно прочитать, что наряду с глаголом will в качестве вспомогательного (не путать с модальным) для образования форм будущего времени в 1-ом лице единственного и множественного числа используется shall.
I shall go. — Я пойду.
We shall go. — Мы пойдем.
В современном английском языке shall как вспомогательный уже практически не используется, можно смело говорить I will go, We will go.
Однако shall используется как модальный глагол, то есть для выражения отношения говорящего к действию. Вот примеры таких случаев:
1. Вопрос с целью получить инструкцию, распоряжение (в предложениях от первого лица):
Shall I bring you water? — Мне принести тебе воды?
Shall I go? — Я пошел?
Shall I call you the manager? — Позвать вам менеджера?
2. Угроза, обещание (обращение ко второму, третьему лицу)
This is the last warning. You shall bring me the money. — Это последнее предупреждение. Ты принесешь мне деньги.
I’m fired. My boss shall regret his decision. — Я уволен. Мой босс пожалеет о своем решении.
3. Долженствование, обязательство выполнить действие (как правило, в официальных документах, договорах)
The contractor shall provide them with housing. — Подрядчик обязан обеспечить их жильем.
Примечание: У глагола shall тоже есть форма прошедшего времени — should, подробнее об употреблении should в качестве модального глагола написано в статье «Модальные глаголы в английском языке.»
Will или Going to?
Намерение совершить действие в будущем можно выразить не только с помощью will, но и используя оборот to be going to. В употреблении этих двух способов много тонких нюансов, зависящих от ситуации, контекста, интонации. Но наиболее общее правило такое:
- will — выражение уверенности в совершении действия, что-то вроде «я СДЕЛАЮ это», «это ПРОИЗОЙДЕТ».
- to be going to — запланированное, предполагаемое действие, обычно в ближайшем будущем, что-то вроде «я СОБИРАЮСЬ сделать это».
I will tell my girlfriend the truth tonight. — Сегодня вечером я СКАЖУ своей девушке всю правду.
I am goint to tell my girlfriend the truth tonight. — Сегодня вечером я собираюсь рассказать своей девушке всю правду.
Другие случаи использования will и to be going to:
| Will | To be going to |
| Решение совершить действие в будущем принято в момент речи: | Решение совершить действие в будущем принято до момента речи (запланировано): |
|---|---|
| — There’s no milk. — Молоко закончилось. — Really? I’ll go and get some. — Правда? Тогда я пойду куплю. |
— There’s no milk. — Молоко закончилось. — I know. I’m going to go and get some when this TV show finishes. — А я знаю. Я пойду куплю молока, когда передача закончится. |
| Предсказание будущих событий, основанное на мнении: | Предсказание будущих событий, основанное на том, что в настоящем есть что-то указывающее на эти события: |
| — I think the cop will spot us. — Я думаю, коп нас заметит. | — The cop has got a flashlight! He is going to spot us. — У копа фонарик! Он нас заметит. |
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The modal auxiliary verb ‘would’ is one of the most versatile modal auxiliary verbs in English, if not the most. It is used in different situations for different purposes. Today, we will dive in deep and master all the different uses of would in English.
Would is a modal auxiliary verb; that means, it supports or helps the main verb in a sentence. The interesting thing about would is that it can be used to refer to all the tenses: present, past, and future.
Different use of would
1. Past habits (repetitive actions in the past)
One of the most interesting uses of would is to talk about past habits or repetitive actions in the past. Read the following story carefully to master this use of would:
Back in the days, I had a classmate named Anish. He would come late to the class. He would be punished by the teacher every time. He would sit alone in the back seat and make weird noises. For that, he would get beaten too. 😉
The interesting and surprising thing was that he would not talk to any of our classmates; he would just be alone and talk to himself.
Other students would say that he had been hit by a train. Everyone would make fun of him for his peculiar behavior. Nobody would try to be his friends, sit with him, or even say Hi.
Isn’t it a tragic story? ;(
Yes, it is. But it is a great story to learn the use of would when to talk about repetitive actions in the past. All these things would happen repetitively in the past, and that’s why we are using would in these sentences. We can replace would in these sentences with ‘used to.’ It does the same job.
Let me show you more examples of would to talk about the repetitive actions in the past!
- When I was living in Mumbai, I would go to Juhu beach every evening and eat bhelpuri on the top of a rock.
- In my childhood, my father would take us to movies every weekend.
- It was amazing to be with Jerry. She would wake me up every morning, cook breakfast for me, feed me from her own hands.
- My sister would cry before going to school.
NOTE: we can replace would with used to in these sentences.
- When I was living in Mumbai, I used to go to Juhu beach every evening and eat bhelpuri on the top of a rock.
- In my childhood, my father used to take us to movies every weekend.
- It was amazing to be with Jerry. She used to wake me up every morning, cook breakfast for me, feed me from her own hands.
- My sister used to cry before going to school.
2. WOULD as the past form of will in indirect speech
Direct speech: Rahul said to me, “I will help you.”
Indirect speech: Rahul told me that he would help me.
Direct speech: He said, “You will be my best friend.”
Indirect speech: He said that I would be his best friend.
Direct speech: I said to my friends, “I will throw a party soon.”
Indirect speech: I told my friends that I would throw a party soon.
NOTE: Would is used as the past tense of will in indirect speech.
3. To make polite offers and invitations
Would is usually used to make polite offers and invitations.
- Would you like to be a part of our startup?
- Would you like to join us tonight for the party?
- Would you like me to book a cab for you?
- Would any of your friends be interested to watch the movie with us?
Note: we make polite offers and invitations use the structure ” subject + would + like to” or ” subject + would + like + noun/pronoun + to.”
4. Polite Requests
We often use would to make polite requests. We also use can or could to make requests too.
- Would you please shift a bit?
- Would you drop my son to his school?
- Would you lend me your phone for a minute, please?
- Would you share your current location, please?
Adding ‘please‘ to the request makes the request even more polite.
NOTE: Use “Would you mind + gerund ……. ? “ to make a request. It’s very common in spoken English.
- Would you mind sharing the pizza with me?
- Would you mind taking a photo of my kids?
- Would you mind carrying my bags for a moment?
- Would you mind helping me understand this text?
- Would you mind sharing some workout tips? We really need some.
5. Polite questions
Use would while asking polite questions.
- Would you like some cheese in your pasta?
- Would you like to try the cake I just have baked?
- Would you know the name of your math teacher?
- Would your husband mind if I dance with you?
You can use would to ask questions in a polite manner. The same questions can be asked in other ways too (not remotely polite).
- Do you want some cheese in your pasta?
- Do you want to try the cake I just have baked?
- Do you know the name of your math teacher?
- Does your husband mind if I dance with you?
6. To make wishes/desires
Use would to show you desires or wishes.
- I would like to open a school for underprivileged students.
- She would like you to sing for her.
- We would like to do something for the poor.
- My mother would like to see my kids before she dies.
- I would like some beer if that’s possible.
7. To show certainty or possibility
The modal will is used to talk about what people are willing to do in the present or in the future. Would is the past tense of will and is used to talk about what people were willing to do in the past.
- We will die for you.
- The students will do whatever you say.
- I will not put my job on the line for you.
- The baby will not sleep without getting the milk.
Use would in the past to talk about the willingness of a person or people!
- They would die for me if they had to.
- The students would do whatever I said.
- He would not put his job on the line for me.
- The baby would not sleep without getting the milk.
8. To give opinions
- Going there without knowing them would not be the right thing to do.
- Proposing her on her birthday would be the best.
- That job would be good to join.
9. Unreal or hypothetical situation (conditional sentences)
Would is used in conditional sentences to talk about unreal or hypothetical things.
Use of would in type 2 conditional sentences
- If I were your father, I would take away all the fancy gadgets from you.
- If she knew how to speak English, she would get many jobs.
- If I were a bird, I would shit on you every day.
- If he had more money, he wouldn’t do this terrible job.
In type 2 conditional sentences, we talk about an unreal or impossible situation and its result in the present or in the near future. We use the subjunctive ‘were’ to show the hypothetical condition.
Use would to give pieces of advises (2nd conditional)
- If I were you, I wouldn’t waste my talent like this.
(Don’t waste your talent like this)
- We would say ‘yes’ to his offer if we were you.
(You should say ‘yes’ to his offer)
- I would never leave this girl if I were you.
(You should never leave this girl)
- If I were you, I wouldn’t talk to my father with such a derogatory tone.
(You should not talk to your father with such a derogatory tone)
- If I were you, I would consult a doctor right away.
(You should consult a doctor right away)
Use of would in type 3 conditional sentences
- We would have won the match if they had not cheated.
- If the company had treated me well, I wouldn’t have left the job.
- If she had not lied to me, I would not have broken up with her.
- If you had come in my life earlier, I would have been a successful guy.
- Jon would have been alive if you had taken him to the hospital in time.
We use type 3 conditional sentences to about an unreal situation in the past, and its probable result in the past.
Examples of would in Mixed conditional sentences:
- If I did not have an exam tomorrow, I would be coming with you guys.
(I have an exam tomorrow, and I will not be coming with you.)
- Max would be really upset with us if we were not coming to his party.
(We are coming to his party, and he is not upset with us.)
- If I had listened to your advice that day, I would be dead today.
(I am not dead as I did listen to your advice that day.)
- If she had not cheated me, we would be getting married next week.
(We are not getting married next week because she cheated me.)
- If you had found Ashish, your lives would be so boring.
(Your lives aren’t boring as Ashish is with you.) 😉
Now, you have mastered the different usages of would in English. Feel free to share your question, doubt, or feedback in the comment section, and also, share the post with the people that need it.
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Hope the usages of would is clear. Feel free to ask your questions and share the post with others! See you in the other class!
Related YouTube videos:
Conditional sentences Type 1 2 3:
Mixed conditional sentences
Use of Can and Could