6 forms
Would, the past form of will, is a modal auxiliary verb (see modal auxiliary verbs: introduction-354). Questions and negatives are made without do; after would, we use an infinitive without to.
Would your daughter like to play with my little girl?
Contractions are’d, wouldn’t.
I’d like some advice, please.
I wish she wouldn’t take things so seriously. *?
7 would and will
Would, is used as a softer, less definite form of will (see will: various uses), or in some cases as the past of will.
8 indirect speech
In indirect speech, would is used after past reporting verbs where will was used in direct speech. For details, see indirect speech 2: tenses.
DIRECT SPEECH: Tomorrow will be fine.
INDIRECT SPEECH: The forecast said the next day would be fine.
Would
itself does not usually change in indirect speech (see indirect speech 5: advanced points).
DIRECT SPEECH: Would you like some help?
INDIRECT SPEECH: She asked if I would like some help.
9 future in the past
Would is also used to express the idea of ‘future in the past’ – to talk about a past action which had not yet happened at the time we are talking about. For details, see future 11: future in the past.
In Berlin, he first met the woman whom he would one day marry.
There was a chance that my letter would arrive in time.
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0 interpersonal uses
Would is used in polite requests and offers as a softer form of will.
Would you open the window, please?
If you would come this way …
Would you mind standing up for a moment?
Would you like tea, or would you prefer coffee?
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1 past willingness and refusals
Would can refer to past willingness of a general kind, but not to willingness to do something on a particular past occasion. Compare:
She would hoover, dust and iron, but she didn’t like doing windows.
She agreed to come and see me. (not She would-eome and see me.)
But would not can be used to refer to a refusal on a particular past occasion. I asked him veiy politely, but he wouldn’t tell me.
The car wouldn’t start again this morning.
For present refusals with will not / won’t, see will: various uses.4.
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2
typical behaviour
Would is used as the past of will (see will: various uses.7) to talk about typical behaviour in the past.
When she was old, she would sit in the corner talking to herself for hours. Sometimes he would bring me little presents without saying why.
On Sundays when I was a child we would all get up early and go fishing.
Sentences with stressed would can be used to criticise people’s behaviour.
He was a nice boy, but he would talk about himself all the time.
Stressed would can also be used to criticise a single past action – the meaning is ‘that’s typical of you’.
You WOULD tell Mary about the party – I didn’t want to invite her.
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3 would and used to
Used to (see used + infinitive) can refer to repeated actions and events in the past, in the same way as would.
When she was old, she used to sit in the comer talking to herself for hours. Sometimes he used to bring me little presents without saying why.
But only used to can refer to past states. Compare:
When we were children we would / used to go skating every winter.
I used to have an old Rolls-Royce,
(but not I would have an old Rolls-Royee.) And we use used to, not would, to talk about regular and important habitual behaviour.
Robert used to play a lot of football, (not Robert would play …)
I used to smoke, (not 1 would-smoke.)
14conditional auxiliary: I would
…
if
Would
(first person also II we should – see if 3: special structures with past tenses and would) is often used as an auxiliary with verbs that refer to unreal or uncertain situations – for example in sentences with if. (Compare the use of will!shall to refer to more definite situations.)
1 would/should tell you if I knew.
It would have been nice if he’d, thanked you.
We would/should like to talk to you for a minute.
For would after wish, see wish.5. For would after if only, see if only.
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