Modal Auxiliary Would

Would is a modal auxiliary verb. There is no -s in the third person singular. Would is followed by an infinitive without to.

• He said he would try his best to help me.
• I would like to know what my duty is.
• The doctor said he would visit the patient.

Questions and negatives are made without do.

• Would you like some coffee? (NOT Do you would like …)

Would and Will

Would is a softer, less definite form of will. It is used in polite requests and offers.

• I would like to meet him.

Would can act as the past of will in indirect speech.

• She said, ‘I will not live here anymore.’
• She said that she would not live there anymore.

Would: Uses

To make polite offers and requests

Would is often used in polite requests and offers. It is a softer, less definite form of will.

• Would you mind moving a bit?
• Would you mind sharing a room?
• I would like to meet the manager.

Would can also be used to express an opinion in a more polite way without being forceful.

• This is not what we would expect from a professional service.

To talk about past habits

Would can be used to talk about past events that happened often or always.

• He would always bring us nice gifts without telling why.
• The old man would recline in a corner and sleep most of the time.
• After dinner we would sit in a common room and chat for a while.

Would is often used to suggest that what happens is expected because it is typical, especially of a person’s behaviour.

• She would always trust the wrong person.
• ‘Ann rang to say that she was too busy to come.’ ‘She would – she always has an excuse.’

To talk about willingness and determination

Would can express willingness or a rather perverse determination.

• He said he would try his best to help me. (Willingness)
• He would bet on that horse, though I asked him not to. (Determination)
• She would have her own way.

Wouldn’t shows unwillingness.

• I asked him to move his car, but he said he wouldn’t.

To talk about imaginary situations

Would is sometimes used to refer to a situation that you can imagine happening.

• I would hate to miss the show.
• I would go myself but I am too busy.
• It would have been quite boring to sit through the entire speech.

Would and used to

Both would and used to can refer to repeated actions and events in the past.

• She would/used to always carry an umbrella.

Note that used to can refer to past states; would cannot.

• I used to have an old Rolls Royce. (NOT I would have …)

Would rather

Would rather expresses choice or preference.

• She would rather die than marry him.
• They would rather go to jail than pay the fine.