Definition of 'would'

Word Frequency

would

(wəd, STRONG wʊd)

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

English Easy Learning GrammarWouldThe modal verb would is commonly used as follows:
to make a polite request.
Would you mind moving your bag?
Would you give me a hand with this ladder, ... Read more

English Easy Learning GrammarConditional clausesConditional sentences consist of a main clause and a conditional clause (sometimescalled an if-clause). The conditional clause usually begins with if ... Read more

English Easy Learning GrammarModal verbsModal verbs are a particular kind of auxiliary.
Look, I can do it! – Oh yes! So you can.
Can I use your phone? – Of course you can.
Do you think she will ... Read more

Video: pronunciation of
would

would in British English

(wʊd, unstressed wəd)

verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

1. used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will1

2. (with you, 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?

used as an auxiliary to describe a past action as being accustomed or habitual

every day we would go for walks

I wish

would that he were here

▶ USAGE See note at should

Word Frequency

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

used to express a supposition or condition

he would write if he knew you would answer; I wouldn't do that for anything

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

Examples of 'would' in a sentence
would

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

They would also like to get rid of their steep staircase.She has said that she would like to see annual binding votes on pay packages.Sometimes he would put down something he had already done simply for the pleasure of ticking it off.We knew something would go wrong.She would know something about that.And it would do something else.The income would flow back over 20 years and would be used to repay the loan.I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't use an online agent.The government won an agreement that only funds contributed by the eurozone countries would be used.Figures like these would have sent the pound tumbling.

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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