Uses and grammar of the
verb would
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How and when to use the modal verb would?
How is would used in English? The modal verb would is always used accompanied by a verb in infinitive, to which it gives the conditional meaning, that is, the ending ‘-ía’ in Spanish. Also, it can be the past of will. When is would used? We use it when we want to talk about habits or customs in the past. Additionally, it can be used in reported speech sentences to replace will.
In ABA English video lessons you will find the characteristics of the modal verb would explained along with all other English grammatical structures.
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Why is it essential to learn modal verbs
If you wonder what modal verbs are, we tell you that they are a type of auxiliary verbs, that is to say, they have the peculiarity of appearing with another verb, used to express modality.
To thoroughly know the use of all modal verbs, including would, it will be necessary that you know the English grammar rules. Grammar will help you understand the foundations of the language so that later you feel free to combine the structures and have fluency in expressing yourself.
How to use the modal verb would
Here we leave you some examples of sentences with would so you can see how it is used.
Modal verb would in affirmative
Would in a reported speech sentence.
- He said he would come to my house. (He said he would come to my house).
Modal verb would in negative
An example with wouldn’t with a similar meaning to used to.
- When I was younger, I wouldn’t go to the disco. (When I was younger, I didn’t use to go to the disco).
Modal verb would in affirmative
Would in a conditional sentence.
- If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. (If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world).
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How to use would to talk about the past
You can use would when you want to talk about events that you used to do repeatedly in the past. For example:
- I would visit my grandmother every summer at her country side house. (I used to visit my grandmother every summer at her country house).
- She would cook a huge lasagna for all the family. (She used to cook a huge lasagna for all the family).
Keep in mind that you can’t use would with stative verbs (state verbs), that is, verbs that mainly talk about a state, opinion, liking, perception or necessity, among others.
Some examples of stative verbs are: need (to need), think (to think), like (to like), understand (to understand), love (to love), believe (to believe), hear (to hear), taste (to taste), know (to know), etc.
For these stative verbs, you can use the expression used to.
Tips for using would
When you use would with the third person singular in the present simple, the ending does not change. That is, you don’t need to add the -s. Also, you must not add to would any ending such as -ing or -ed.
Would is an auxiliary verb, so you will always have to use with it a main verb in infinitive, without the to. For example:
- If I had a lot of cash, I would travel to Mexico. (If I had a lot of cash, I would travel to Mexico).
Would serves to build interrogative and negative sentences without needing to use auxiliary verbs like do or does.
- Would you like some cookies? (Would you like some cookies?)
- I would not eat that watermelon if I were you. (If I were you, I wouldn’t eat that watermelon).
Contractions with would
You can contract the modal verb would with the negation not like this: wouldn’t. You can also contract would with personal pronouns.
- I would = I’d
- You would = You’d
- He would = He’d
- She would = She’d
- It would = It’d be nice
- We would = We’d
- They would = They’d
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Modal verb would exercises
Challenge your knowledge with the modal verb would by completing the following exercises:
- If I were you, I ______ ____ buy that house. It is too expensive. (If I were you, I wouldn’t buy that house. It is too expensive).
- We ______ _______ to call our friends tonight. (We would like to call our friends tonight).
- When I was a child I thought life was easier.
- a. When I was a kid I used to think life was easier.
- b. When I was a kid I would think life was easier.
- Would you like to go to the party with me?
- a. Do you want to come with me to the party?
- b. Would you like to come with me to the party?
Answers: 1. Would not 2. would like 3. a, 4. b.
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