would
form and pronunciation
Would is a modal. It is used in a number of different ways.
When would comes after a pronoun, it is not usually pronounced in full. When you write down what someone says, you usually represent ‘would’ as 'd and add it to the end of the pronoun. For example, instead of writing ‘I would like that’, you write ‘I’d like that'.
Would has the negative form would not. The not is not usually pronounced in full. When you write down what someone says, you usually write wouldn't. For example, instead of writing ‘He would not do that’, you write ‘He wouldn’t do that'.
talking about the past
You can use would to talk about something that happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.
We would normally spend the winter in Miami.
She would often hear him singing.
Used to has a similar meaning.
She used to visit them every Sunday.
In the afternoons, I used to read.
However, used to can also be used to talk about states and situations that existed in the past but no longer exist. You cannot use ‘would’ like this. You can say, for example, ‘She used to work there’. Don't say ‘She would work there’
I used to be quite overweight.
You use would have to talk about actions and events that were possible in the past, although they did not in fact happen.
It would have been unfair if we had won.
I would have said yes, but Julia persuaded me to stay at home.
When would not is used to talk about something that happened in the past, it means that someone refused to do something.
They just would not believe what we told them.
I asked him to come with me, but he wouldn't.
Would is sometimes used in stories to talk about someone's thoughts about the future.
He thought to himself how wonderful it would taste.
Would he ever be successful?
used in conditional sentences
You use would in a conditional sentence when you are talking about a situation that you know does not exist. Use would in the main clause. In the conditional clause, use the past simple, the past progressive, or could.
If I had enough money, I would buy the car.
If he was coming, he would call.
I would work if I could.
Be careful
Don't use ‘would’ in the conditional clause in sentences like these. Don't say, for example, ‘If I would have enough money, I would buy the car’.
Don't use ‘would’ in the conditional clause in sentences like these. Don't say, for example, ‘If I would have enough money, I would buy the car’.
When you are talking about the past, you use would have in a conditional sentence to mention an event that might have happened but did not happen. In this kind of sentence, you use the past perfect in the conditional clause and would have in the main clause.
If he had realized, he would have told someone.
If she had not been wearing her seat belt, she would have been killed.
used in reported clauses
Would is also used in reported clauses.
He asked if I would answer some questions.
I felt confident that everything would be all right.
requests, orders, and instructions
You can use would to make a request.
Would you do something for me?
Would someone carry this?
You can also use would to give an order or instruction.
Pour me a cup of coffee, would you?
Would you sit down, please?
offers and invitations
You can say ‘Would you...?’ when you are offering something to someone, or making an invitation.
Would you like a drink?
Would anyone care for some ice cream?