Uses of WOULD

The uses of WOULD

Arantxa HernándezC1.1

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WOULD

‘Would’ is one of the most versatile modal auxiliary verbs in English, if not the most. It is used in different situations for diverse purposes. Would is a modal auxiliary verb; i.e, it 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.

Past habits (repetitive actions in the past)

WOULD as the past form of will in indirect speech

Polite offers & invitations

Polite Requests & Polite questions

Unreal or hypothetical situation

Certainty or possibility

Wishes/desires

Opinions

Past habits (repetitive actions in the past)

• When I was living in Edinburgh, I would go to Princess Street garden every afternoon and eat my luch looking at the castle.
• In my childhood, my father would take us to the cinema every Sunday evening.
• My sister would cry every morning before going to school.

NOTE: we can replace 'would' with 'used to’

WOULD as the past form of 'will' in indirect speech

Direct speech: Matt said to me, “I will help you.” Indirect speech: Matt 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.

Polite offers & invitations

• Would you like to be a part of our startup?
• Would you like to join us tonight for dinner?
• Would you like me to book a cab for you?
• Would any of your friends be interested in watching the film with us?

Polite Requests

We often use would to make polite requests. We also use can or could to make requests, too.

• Would you please move forward a bit, please?
• Would you give me a lift, please?
• 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 helping me understand this text?

Polite questions

• Would you like some cheese in your pasta?
• Would you like to try the cake I've just baked?
• Would your friend mind if I join you?

To make wishes/desires

• I would like to open a school for underprivileged children.
• They would like you to sing for them.
• We would like to do something for the community.
• I would like some water, if that’s possible.

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. (reported speech)

• The students will do whatever you say.
• The students would do whatever I said.
• The baby will not sleep without getting her milk.
• The baby would not sleep without getting her milk.

To give opinions

• Going there without knowing them would not be the right thing to do.
• Proposing her on her birthday would be a great surprise.
• That job would make you good.

Unreal or hypothetical situations

Type II conditional sentences:

• If she knew how to speak English, she would get promoted.
• If he could find another job, he wouldn’t have to put up with his boss.

To give pieces of advice:

• If I were you, I would travel the world.

Type III conditional sentences:

• If she had not lied to me, I would not have broken up with her.

This would be of great use!

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