to introduce a possibility or presumption

He would have won if he hadn't tripped

after a verb expressing a wish or request

I wish he would go away

in negative constructions to express doubt

He would not hurt a fly

to express a polite request or invitation

Would you please help me?

Would you like some tea?

in reported speech to express an action or state in the future

He said he would come

to express a preference

I would rather go to the cinema

to express habitual action in the past

We would meet often for lunch

with emphatic stress to express annoyance

She would keep complaining

literary to express a wish or desire

Men would be angels, angels would be gods — Pope