Where we can use would word

Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

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Asked by: Adolf Ernser

Score: 4.9/5
(70 votes)

We often use would (or the contracted form ‘d) in the main clause of a conditional sentence when we talk about imagined situations: If we had left earlier, we would have been able to stop off for a coffee on the way. If we went to Chile, we’d have to go to Argentina as well. I’d love to see both.

Where the word would is used?

would is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past tense, it is used: to talk about the past. to talk about hypotheses (when we imagine something)

Would and used to examples?

Used to and would are both use to describe something that happened regularly in the past but doesn’t happen any longer, as shown in the following two sentences about quitting smoking: I used to smoke, but I quit last year. Whenever I craved a cigarette, I would chew gum instead.

Would and could use?

Could, would, and should are all used to talk about possible events or situations, but each one tells us something different. Could is used to say that an action or event is possible. Would is used to talk about a possible or imagined situation, and is often used when that possible situation is not going to happen.

What is would grammar?

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.

16 related questions found

Asked by: Magali Heller

Score: 4.5/5
(67 votes)

The most common situations when we use “would” are:

Which is correct I will or I would?

Will and would are verbs, and each can be used many different ways. 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.

Where we use would?

would for past habits is slightly more formal than used to. It is often used in stories. We don’t normally use the negative or question form of would for past habits. Note that we can’t usually use would to talk about past states.

Where should and would be used?

Use «should» to say that something is the right thing to do; use «would» to talk about a situation that is possible or imagined. So, add another modal, such as «could,» to the sentence to see if it still makes sense. For example, you could say: Joe «should» call his mom this week.

Would and will in the same sentence?

For instance: I would propose her if I got a chance, but I know she will definitely reject. If absolutely necessary I will go to china, but I would prefer somebody from Head Office to manage it.

18 related questions found

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.

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.

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.

Hi dear English learners! Are you tired of learning English grammar? I hope not because in today’s lesson, we will be learning how to use WOULD in English.

When it comes to the use of “would” remember that it is a modal and auxiliary verb and the past form of “will“.

• She said that she would phone me later.
• Paul promised that he wouldn’t be late.

Like other modal verbs, would always goes with a bare infinitive.

• As usual, I would go shopping after breakfast.
• I would have a cake, please.

Would is often shortened to ‘d, especially in spoken English.

• I would like to help you but I’m busy.
• I‘d like to help you…

Try not to confuse “would” with “had” because it’s shortened version is also ‘d

• I had never been there before.
• I’d never been there before.

We can use would in several ways in English.

WOULD for making polite offers and requests

We can use would to make offers and requests.

• Would you like some coffee?
• I would (I’d) like some tea, please.
• Would you please give me a hand?
• Would you mind closing the window?
• I would like my steak well-done.

We can also use would if we want to be less direct, especially with verbs such as say, recommend, advise, suggest, etc.

• I‘d recommend you try to memorize collocations and phrasal verbs, not only words.
• I‘d say the blue dress suits you better than the green one.

or with preference phrases such as would rather (than)

• I‘d rather have a nap than go for a walk.
• Would you rather go on holiday to the mountains than to the seaside?

WOULD for conditionals

We use would for the second and third conditionals, e.g. for imaginary and unreal situations.

• If I had a car I would drive to work.
• I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
• I would have called you if I’d had your number.
• If I had known you were in a hospital, I would have visited you.

WOULD for regular past action

We can use would to talk about actions (but not states) that were happening regularly in the past.

• When we were little, our grandma would read us stories before bed.
• Our ex-neighbour would often invite us for a picnic.
• When we were young, we would dance all night.

Remember that you can use would for actions only and used to for both actions and states.

Click the link to visit the post about used to

WOULD after question words

We normally use would in questions after a question word.

• Where would you like to go?
• Who would you like to go with
• When would you like to start learning to drive?
• How would you like to pay?

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

«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)