The word would has a lot of jobs in English language. It's a modal auxiliary verb, which means it modifies other verbs to create different effects, such as too express:
hypothetical situations
wishes
talk about preferences; and, finally,
willingness in the past
repeated actions in the past
opinions
invitations or offers
reported speech
10
polite requests
conditional sentences
Would
This time, we will focus in the first two uses. We use would to formulate, accept, and decline invitations and make a request in a formal context.
Structure:
It comes after the subject and before the main verb in affirmative sentences.
Subject + would + main verb + complement Example: I would like a glass of water, please.
In negative sentences we add not between would and the main verb.
Subject + would not (wouldn’t) + main verb + complement
Example: I would not eat spicy food at night.
Invitations
Use it to make invitations or offers
Use it to make polite requests
1. Use it to make invitations or offers
Structure:
In interrogative sentences we put the modal verb would first, then the subject and then the main verb followed by the complement:
Would you like a cup of coffee?
Would + subject + verb (infinitive) +?
Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow? Oh, that would be lovely!
Example:
Here the structure is would + you + like + to-infinitive verb + complement
1. Use it to make invitations or offers
There are two ways of answering: accept the invitation or decline the request. Invitations can be divided into formal and informal. In the next chart, there are some common expressions to make, accept or decline invitations, in formal or informal situations.
Formal situation
Making invitation
Making invitation
Making invitation
● I would love to …… ● Thank you very much for the invitation ● That’s very kind of you ● That sounds great…. ● It’s a great idea
● I’d like to, but ….
● I’m sorry, I can’t….
● Thank you for the invitation, but …
● Think I can´t.
● Unfortunately, I can’t
● Would you like to…?
● Would you …?
● Would you care to...?
2. Use it to make polite requests
Since it is essential to ask for things politely, if you say: "Open the door", to someone, you'll sound demanding and rude and is if you are giving an order. Can you identify the difference in the following examples?
Polite
Demanding
4. Would you close the door, please? 5. Sure, I'd be happy to.
a. Open the door, please.
b. Open it yourself!
Common expressions used to make, accept or decline invitations using the modal auxiliary “would”
People have, in daily life, social situations such as birthdays, graduations or wedding parties. Sometimes you want to go to some events such as musical concerts, sports matches, movies or only go to a restaurant or bar.
Most of the time, you and people don’t want to be alone at these activities. Therefore, you make or receive invitations. When you give somebody an invitation, you ask if he would like to go somewhere, do something or have something.
References
Would
Campos, M. (s. f.). Questions with would for the ESL classroom. Englishpost.org. https://englishpost.org/questions-with-would/Jesús Felipe Florido, J. (s. f.). Modal verbs: can, could, would, should. Unam.mx. https://avi.cuaieed.unam.mx/uapa/avi/ing_6/U_1/ing6_u1_t1/index.html Would. (s. f.). Oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/would British Council. (s. f.). https://www.britishcouncil.co/blog/aprende-ingles/modal-verbs#:~:text=Would%3A,taza%20de%20caf%C3%A9%2C%20por%20favor)
Observe more examples:
- Would you like to join us for dinner tonight?
- Would you be interested in coming to the concert with us?
- Would you enjoy attending to the party next Saturday?
- Would you prefer to join us for a movie or game tonight?
- Would you like to be our guest at the theater performance?
Would
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Transcript
The word would has a lot of jobs in English language. It's a modal auxiliary verb, which means it modifies other verbs to create different effects, such as too express:
hypothetical situations
wishes
talk about preferences; and, finally,
willingness in the past
repeated actions in the past
opinions
invitations or offers
reported speech
10
polite requests
conditional sentences
Would
This time, we will focus in the first two uses. We use would to formulate, accept, and decline invitations and make a request in a formal context.
Structure:
It comes after the subject and before the main verb in affirmative sentences.
Subject + would + main verb + complement Example: I would like a glass of water, please.
In negative sentences we add not between would and the main verb.
Subject + would not (wouldn’t) + main verb + complement Example: I would not eat spicy food at night.
Invitations
Use it to make invitations or offers
Use it to make polite requests
1. Use it to make invitations or offers
Structure:
In interrogative sentences we put the modal verb would first, then the subject and then the main verb followed by the complement:
Would you like a cup of coffee? Would + subject + verb (infinitive) +?
Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow? Oh, that would be lovely!
Example:
Here the structure is would + you + like + to-infinitive verb + complement
1. Use it to make invitations or offers
There are two ways of answering: accept the invitation or decline the request. Invitations can be divided into formal and informal. In the next chart, there are some common expressions to make, accept or decline invitations, in formal or informal situations.
Formal situation
Making invitation
Making invitation
Making invitation
● I would love to …… ● Thank you very much for the invitation ● That’s very kind of you ● That sounds great…. ● It’s a great idea
● I’d like to, but …. ● I’m sorry, I can’t…. ● Thank you for the invitation, but … ● Think I can´t. ● Unfortunately, I can’t
● Would you like to…? ● Would you …? ● Would you care to...?
2. Use it to make polite requests
Since it is essential to ask for things politely, if you say: "Open the door", to someone, you'll sound demanding and rude and is if you are giving an order. Can you identify the difference in the following examples?
Polite
Demanding
4. Would you close the door, please? 5. Sure, I'd be happy to.
a. Open the door, please. b. Open it yourself!
Common expressions used to make, accept or decline invitations using the modal auxiliary “would”
People have, in daily life, social situations such as birthdays, graduations or wedding parties. Sometimes you want to go to some events such as musical concerts, sports matches, movies or only go to a restaurant or bar.
Most of the time, you and people don’t want to be alone at these activities. Therefore, you make or receive invitations. When you give somebody an invitation, you ask if he would like to go somewhere, do something or have something.
References
Would
Campos, M. (s. f.). Questions with would for the ESL classroom. Englishpost.org. https://englishpost.org/questions-with-would/Jesús Felipe Florido, J. (s. f.). Modal verbs: can, could, would, should. Unam.mx. https://avi.cuaieed.unam.mx/uapa/avi/ing_6/U_1/ing6_u1_t1/index.html Would. (s. f.). Oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/would British Council. (s. f.). https://www.britishcouncil.co/blog/aprende-ingles/modal-verbs#:~:text=Would%3A,taza%20de%20caf%C3%A9%2C%20por%20favor)
Observe more examples: