Would / wʊd /

۱

PAST INTENTIONS / EXPECTATIONS / INDIRECT SPEECH

 Used to say what someone intended to do or expected to happen

 They said they would meet us at 10.30 at the station.

She was sure they wouldn’t be coming to the library any more.

Arnold knew he would be tired the next day. It would soon be dark.

 ۲

IMAGINED SITUATIONS (Conditional type 2 & 3)

 a) Used when talking about a possible situation that you imagine or want to happen

 What would you do if you won a million pounds?

I’d be amazed if I got the job. I wish they’d come and visit us. If only he would listen to me.

 b) Used when talking about something that did not happen or a situation that cannot exist

 Everything would be very different if your father were still alive.

I would have phoned you, but there wasn’t time.

Alex would never have found out if you hadn’t told him.

What would have happened if I hadn’t been here?

 ۳

PAST HABITS (used to …)

 Used to say that something happened often or regularly in the past or it was a typical behavior

 When we worked in the same office, we would often have coffee together.

On summer evenings they would sit out in the garden.

 ۴

FUTURE IN THE PAST

 Sometimes when we are talking about the past we want to talk about something which was in the future at that time – which had not happened yet To express this idea we use the structures that are normally used to talk about the future but we make the verb form past.

For example instead of is going to we use was going to

Instead of the present continuous we use past continuous

Instead of will we use would

 Last time I saw you, you were going to start a new job

In 1989 I arrived in the town where I would spend the next ten years of my life

I didn’t have time to talk to him because I was leaving for Germany

 ۵

INTERPERSONAL USES (Requesting & Offers & Advice)

 Used to ask someone politely to do something

 Would you shut the window, please?

Would you mind waiting outside?

Would you like tea or would you prefer coffee?

 ۶

WHAT SOMEBODY WANTS

 Used to say that someone wants something or wants to do something

 Would like/love/prefer

 My parents would like to meet you.

Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.

I’d hate (=I do not want) to disappoint you.

Would rather (=used to say what someone prefers) I’d rather stay in this evening, if that’s all right with you.

 ۷

PAST PURPOSE

 Used after ‘so that’ to show that someone was trying to make something happen or prevent something

We packed all the books in wooden boxes so that they wouldn’t get damaged.

 ۸

Would not

 a) Used to say that someone refused to do something

He wouldn’t give us any money.

 b) Used to say that something did not happen, even though someone was trying to make it happen

The door wouldn’t open, no matter how hard she pushed.

 ۹

I would think/imagine/say

 Spoken used to give your opinion about something when you are not very sure about it

I would think you’d be happier in a different school. ‘Will it cost a lot?’ ‘I would imagine so.’