would

wouldmodal verb

Would describes a repeated habit in the past, says what would happen in an imagined situation, makes a polite request or offer, or reports what someone said about the future.

1. used to happenused to describe something that happened regularly in the past

   Describes a repeated action, not a state, in the past, usually with a time expression such as every day or whenever.

   verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]

   • Every summer we would visit our grandparents. V + inf
   • He would always bring flowers on Fridays. V + inf
   • When I was little, my father would read to me before bed. V + inf

   Synonyms used to (used to also describes a past habit and, unlike would, can describe a past state as well)

   Compare used to (would works only for repeated actions, not states: I used to live there, not I would live there)

   For translators (sense 1)

   Grammar trap Would for a past habit describes only repeated actions, never a state that simply continued: I used to know her, not I would know her.

2. in an imagined situationused to say what happens or is true in an imagined or unreal situation

   The usual modal for the result clause of a conditional sentence about something unreal or unlikely, often paired with an if clause in the past tense (for the present or future) or the past perfect (for the past).

   verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]

   • If I had more time, I would travel more. V + inf
   • She would be happier in a different job. V + inf
   • If we had left earlier, we would have caught the train. (past unreal condition, with would have)

   Compare will (will is used for a real, likely future; would for an unreal or hypothetical one)

   For translators (sense 2)

   Grammar trap For a past unreal situation, would is followed by have and a past participle: would have caught, not would catch or would caught.

3. polite requests and offersused to make a polite request or offer, or to invite someone, or, with like, to say politely what someone wants

   Would you...? is a common polite request; would like is the everyday polite way to say what someone wants, more polite than want.

   verb + bare infinitive [V + inf] polite

   • Would you pass the salt, please? V + inf (request)
   • Would you like some coffee? V + inf (offer)
   • I'd like to book a table for two. V + inf

   Collocations

   phrase would like, would you mind, would you like to

   Compare will (would you...? is more polite than will you...?)

   For translators (sense 3)

   Grammar trap Would like is followed by a to-infinitive, not the base form: would like to go, not would like go.

4. reporting the futureused as the past tense of will, especially to report what someone said or thought about the future

   When a statement about the future is reported in the past, will usually changes to would.

   verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]

   • She said she would call later. V + inf
   • I knew he would be late. V + inf
   • They promised they would help us move. V + inf

   Compare will (would is the past-tense counterpart of will in reported speech)

See also will (the present-tense counterpart of would); used to (an alternative for a past habit, and the only choice for a past state)