Would is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. In spoken English, would is often abbreviated to 'd.
1. modal verb
You use would when you are saying what someone believed, hoped, or expected to happen or be the case.
No one believed he would actually kill himself.
Would he always be like this?
Once inside, I found that the flat would be perfect for my life in Paris.
He expressed the hope that on Monday elementary schools would be reopened.
A report yesterday that said unemployment would continue to rise.
I don't think that he would take such a decision.
2. modal verb
You use would when saying what someone intended to do.
The statement added that these views would be discussed by both sides.
George decided it was such a rare car that he would only use it for a few shows.
He did not think he would marry Beth.
3. modal verb
You use would when you are referring to the result or effect of a possible situation.
Ordinarily it would be fun to be taken to fabulous restaurants.
It would be wrong to suggest that police officers were not annoyed by acts of indecency.
It would cost very much more for the four of us to go from Italy.
...identity cards without which fans would not be able to get into stadiums.
4. modal verb
You use would, or would have with a past participle, to indicate that you are assuming or guessing that something is true, because you have good reasons for thinking it.
You wouldn't know him.
His fans would already be familiar with Caroline.
That would have been Della's car.
He made a promise to his great-grandfather? That would have been a long time ago.
It was half seven; her mother would be annoyed because he was so late.
5. modal verb
You use would in the main clause of some 'if' and 'unless' sentences to indicate something you consider to be fairly unlikely to happen.
If only I could get some sleep, I would be able to cope.
I think if I went to look at more gardens, I would be better on planning and designingthem.
A policeman would not live one year if he obeyed these regulations.
the targets would not be achieved unless other departments showed equal commitment.
6. modal verb
You use would to say that someone was willing to do something. You use would not to indicate that they refused to do something.
They said they would give the police their full cooperation.
She indicated that she would help her boss.
David would not accept this.
He wouldn't say where he had picked up the information.
7. modal verb
You use would not to indicate that something did not happen, often in spite of a lot of effort.
He kicked, pushed, and hurled his shoulder at the door. It wouldn't open.
The battery got flatter and flatter, until it wouldn't turn the engine at all.
The paint wouldn't stick to the wallpaper.
8. modal verb
You use would, especially with 'like', 'love', and 'wish', when saying that someone wants to do or have a particular thing or wants a particular thing to happen.
She asked me what I would like to do and mentioned a particular job.
Right now, your mom would like a cup of coffee.
Ideally, she would love to become pregnant again.
He wished it would end.
Anne wouldn't mind going to Italy or France to live.
9. would rather
10. modal verb
You use would with 'if' clauses in questions when you are asking for permission to do something.
Do you think it would be all right if I opened a window?
Mr. Cutler, would you mind if I asked a question?
11. modal verb
You use would, usually in questions with 'like', when you are making a polite offer or invitation.
[politeness]
Would you like a drink?
Would you like to stay?
Perhaps you would like to pay a visit to London.
12. modal verb
You use would, usually in questions, when you are politely asking someone to do something.
[politeness]
Would you do me a favour and get rid of this letter I've just received?
Would you come in here a moment, please?
Would you excuse us for a minute, Cassandra?
Oh dear, there's the doorbell. See who it is, would you, darling.
13. modal verb
You say that someone would do something when it is typical of them and you are critical of it. You emphasize the word would when you use it in this way.
[disapproval]
Well, you would say that: you're a man.
'Well, then Francesca turned round and said, "That's a stupid question."'—'She would,wouldn't she.'
14. modal verb
You use would, or sometimes would have with a past participle, when you are expressing your opinion about something or seeing if people agree with you, especially when you are uncertain about what you are saying.
[vagueness]
I think you'd agree he's a very respected columnist.
I would have thought it a proper job for the Army to fight rebellion.
'Was it much different for you when you started at the Foreign Office?'—'Worse, I'dexpect.'.
I would imagine she's quite lonely living on her own.
15. modal verb
You use I would when you are giving someone advice in an informal way.
If I were you I would simply ring your friend's bell and ask for your bike back.
I would not, if I were you, be inclined to discuss private business with the landlady.
There could be more unrest, but I wouldn't exaggerate the problems.
16. modal verb
You use you would in negative sentences with verbs such as 'guess' and 'know' when you want to say that something is not obvious, especially something surprising.
Chris is so full of artistic temperament you'd never think she was the daughter ofa banker.
Inside, he admits, his emotions may be churning, but you would never guess it.
17. modal verb
You use would to talk about something which happened regularly in the past but which no longer happens.
Sunday mornings my mother would bake. I'd stand by the fridge and help.
'Beauty is only skin deep,' my mother would say.
18. modal verb
You use would have with a past participle when you are saying what was likely to have happened by a particular time.
Within ten weeks, 34 million people would have been reached by our commercials.
19. modal verb
You use would have with a past participle when you are referring to the result or effect of a possibleevent in the past.
My daughter would have been 17 this week if she had lived.
If I had known how he felt, I would never have let him adopt those children.
If I had not been enjoying the work, I would not have done so much of it.
20. modal verb
If you say that someone would have liked or preferred something, you mean that they wanted to do it or have it but were unable to.
I would have liked a life in politics.
She would have liked to ask questions, but he had moved on to another topic.
He dined there regularly, though he would have preferred being at home.
21. modal verb
You use would, usually in negative sentences, to criticize something that someone has done and to express your disapproval of it.
I would never have done what they did.
22.
See would that
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would in British English
(wʊd, unstressed wəd)
verb(takes an infinitive withoutto or an implied infinitive)
1. used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will1
2. (withyou, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject)
used as an auxiliary to indicate willingness or desire in a polite manner
would you help me, please?
3.
used as an auxiliary to describe a past action as being accustomed or habitual
every day we would go for walks
4.
I wish
would that he were here
▶ USAGE See note at should
would in American English
(wʊd)
auxiliary verb
1. pt. of
UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
she said she would be finished before six, in those days we would talk for hours on end
2.
used to express a supposition or condition
he would write if he knew you would answer; I wouldn't do that for anything
3.
used to make a very polite or formal request
would you please open the window?
verb transitive
4. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
if only; I wish
would that she were here
see also UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
Word origin
ME wolde < OE, pt. of willan, to wish, UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
Examples of 'would' in a sentence
would
They would also like to get rid of their steep staircase.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She has said that she would like to see annual binding votes on pay packages.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sometimes he would put down something he had already done simply for the pleasure of ticking it off.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We knew something would go wrong.
The Sun (2016)
She would know something about that.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And it would do something else.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The income would flow back over 20 years and would be used to repay the loan.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't use an online agent.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The government won an agreement that only funds contributed by the eurozone countries would be used.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Figures like these would have sent the pound tumbling.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Was it a surprise that something like this would occur during the course of the credit crunch?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
So which method would have been used?
Francis Pryor BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)
They would do something similar on crime policy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And they claimed explosive devices which cannot be detected by security scans would be used.
The Sun (2010)
Does that sound like something you would enjoy?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Is there anything else you would like us to know that would help us be of service to you?
Christianity Today (2000)
The step up in trip was something we hoped would suit him and the feather weight also played its part.
The Sun (2014)
It looked like he would notch another treble against the Cherries here after his early brace.
The Sun (2016)
Yet only the most harsh would not concede something to the consistency with which they have clung to their cause for so long.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We have about 10,000 to spend and would consider something up to three years old.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If she wanted to do something, she would just wait until you let her do it.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And the longer the suffering went on, the more likely it was that something would snap.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I would rather use alternative medicine than anything else.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I would really like to see him back.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I would like to see it totally carbon fibre.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For years thereafter this incident would be used by critics as a reminder of what could happen if public employees were given the right to strike.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
I think we both realized at last that before long the lights of our accustomed world would have faded behind us.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
What exactly that better world would look like must be settled by future generations, when the possibilities and new problems become clearer.
McInnes, Colin NATO's Changing Strategic Agenda (1990)
The company said that the additional information would be used along with existing 3D seismic data to look at possible opportunities in the field.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There was no way I would continue like that.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
would
British English: would /wʊd/ VERB
You use would to say that someone agreed to do something.
They said they would come to my party.
American English: would
Arabic: سَوْفَ
Brazilian Portuguese: verbo usado para exprimir possibilidade
Chinese: 将会做
Croatian: željeti
Czech: budebudoucí čas v minulosti
Danish: ville
Dutch: zou(den)
European Spanish: verbo auxiliar de condicional
Finnish: -isitul[isi]
French: conditionnel
German: würde
Greek: θα
Italian: auxiliary verb for conditional mood
Japanese: ･･･するつもりだ
Korean: ~할 것이다
Norwegian: skal
Polish: nie tłumaczy się na język polski; służy do tworzenia trybu warunkowego
European Portuguese: pretérito de will
Romanian: arse folosește pt. formarea cond. prez. [v. aux., pret. și cond. prez. de la will]
Russian: согласиться
Latin American Spanish: hacer en condicional
Swedish: skulle
Thai: อยากจะ
Turkish: ecek, acak
Ukrainian: допоміжне дієслово для утворення майбутнього в минулому
Vietnamese: đồng ý sẽ
All related terms of 'would'
will
You use will to indicate that you hope , think , or have evidence that something is going to happen or be the case in the future.
would-be
You can use would-be to describe someone who wants or attempts to do a particular thing. For example , a would-be writer is someone who wants to be a writer.
would've
Would've is a spoken form of 'would have', when 'have' is an auxiliary verb .
would that
If you say ' would that ' something were the case, you are saying that you wish it were the case.
would rather
If you say that you would rather do something or you ' d rather do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it. If you say that you would rather not do something, you mean that you do not want to do it.
would do well to
If you say that someone would do well to do something, you mean that you advise or recommend that they do it.
I would be obliged
expressions used to tell someone in a polite but firm way that one wants them to do something
it would be wise to
If someone says to you that it would be wise to do something, they are advising you to do it, because it is the most sensible and reasonable action or decision in a particular situation.
would you believe it
If you say would you believe it , you are emphasizing your surprise about something.
would/should be obliged
If you tell someone that you would be obliged or should be obliged if they would do something, you are telling them in a polite but firm way that you want them to do it.
would sooner/'d sooner
If you say that you would sooner do something or you ' d sooner do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it.
chance would be a fine thing
said to mean that something that you would like to happen is very unlikely
will never do/would never do
If you say that something will never do or would never do , you are saying , often humorously, that you think it is not appropriate or not suitable in some way.
would not say boo to a goose
is extremely timid or diffident
would just as soon/'d just as soon
If you say that you would just as soon do something or you ' d just as soon do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it.
no-one worth their salt would do something
said to mean that no-one who was good at their job would consider doing a particular thing
would not do sth for anything/would not be sth for anything
You can say that you would not do something for anything to emphasize that you definitely would not want to do or be a particular thing.
would not put it past sb/would not put anything past sb
If you say that you would not put it past someone to do something bad , you mean that you would not be surprised if they did it because you think their character is bad.
someone would give their eye teeth for something
said to mean that someone wants something very much, and that they would do almost anything to get it
someone would love to be a fly on the wall
said to mean that someone would like to be present when a particular thing happens , and hear what is said or see what happens, although this is actually impossible because it will take place in private
look as if butter would not melt in one's mouth
to look innocent or demure
someone would give their right arm to do something
said to mean that someone wants something so much that they would do almost anything to get it
someone would not give someone or something house room
said when someone strongly dislikes or disapproves of someone or something and wants to have nothing to do with them
someone would not do something for all the tea in China
said to emphasize that someone definitely does not want to do something
someone could wring someone's neck
said to mean that a person is very angry with someone else
would not touch someone or something with a barge pole would not touch sb/sth with a bargepole
If you say that you wouldn't touch something with a barge pole , you mean that you would not want to have anything to do with it, either because you do not trust it, or because you do not like it.
Chinese translation of 'would'
would
(wud)
aux vb
(conditional tense)
I would love to go to Italy我很愿(願)意去意大利 (wǒ hěn yuànyì qù Yìdàlì)
you would never guess that ... 你永远(遠)猜不到 ... (nǐ yǒngyuǎn cāi bù dào ... )
I'm sure he wouldn't do that我确(確)定他不会(會)那么(麼)做的 (wǒ quèdìng tā bùhuì nàme zuò de)
if you asked him he would do it如果你要求的话(話)他会(會)做的 (rúguǒ nǐ yāoqiú de huà tā huì zuò de)
if you had asked him he would have done it如果你问(問)过(過)他的话(話)，他早就做了 (rúguǒ nǐ wènguò tā de huà, tā zǎo jiù zuò le)
(in offers, invitations, requests)
would you like a biscuit?你要来(來)块(塊)饼(餅)干(乾)吗(嗎)？ (nǐ yào lái kuàn bǐnggān ma?)
would you ask him to come in?你要叫他进(進)来(來)吗(嗎)？ (nǐ yào jiàotā jìnlái ma?)
would it be all right if I sat down?我可以坐下吗(嗎)？ (wǒ kěyǐ zuòxià ma?)
he asked me if I would go with him他问(問)我是否愿(願)意和他一起去 (tā wèn wǒ shìfǒu yuànyì hé tā yīqǐ qù)
(= be willing to)
she wouldn't help me她不愿(願)意帮(幫)助我 (tā bù yuànyì bāngzhù wǒ)
she wouldn't behave她不会(會)老老实(實)实(實)的 (tā bùhuì lǎolǎo-shíshí de)
the door wouldn't open门(門)是打不开(開)的 (mén shì dǎ bù kāi de)
I wish you would tidy your room但愿(願)你会(會)收拾你的房间(間) (dànyuàn nǐ huì shōushi nǐ de fángjiān)
(in indirect speech)
he said he would be at home later他说(說)他晚点(點)儿(兒)会(會)在家的 (tā shuō tā wǎndiǎnr huì zài jiā de)
she asked me if I would be angry if ... 她问(問)我如果 ... 我是否会(會)生气(氣) (tā wèn wǒ rúguǒ ... wǒ shìfǒu huì shēngqì)
(= used to)
he would spend every day on the beach他以前天天都呆在沙滩(灘)上 (tā yǐqián tiāntiān dōu dāi zài shātān shang)
(conjecture)
you wouldn't know him你一定认(認)不出他的 (nǐ yīdìng rèn bù chū tā de)
it would have been midnight可能已经(經)是半夜了 (kěnéng yǐjīng shì bànyè le)
(emphatic annoyance) 老是 (lǎoshì)
it would have to snow today!今天又得下雪！ (Jīntiān yòu děi xiàxuě!)
you would say that, wouldn't you!你会(會)那么(麼)说(說)，是不是！ (nǐ huì nàme shuō, shì bù shì!)
(insistence)
I didn't want her to, but she would do it我不想她这(這)么(麼)做，但她会(會)的 (wǒ bù xiǎng tā zhème zuò, dàn tā huì de)