Using 'Would': How and When to Use in English
Quick and simple lesson to help you understand grammar better.
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Using 'Would'
The auxiliary verb would, used as a conditional, expresses a notion of willingness, acceptance or preference.
I would buy a car if I could. If I were able to buy a car, I would buy one!
I would make an omelette if I had some eggs.
(had forms the past subjunctive)
(had forms the past subjunctive)
What would you do in my position? If you were me, how would you act?
I'm sure they wouldn't mind if we started dinner without them.
(started is in the past subjunctive here)
(started is in the past subjunctive here)
Would is used when we want to be polite:
I would like some change please. ("would like" is a polite way to say "want")
Would you like something to drink? Do you want something to drink?
It also allows us to express the future in a past sentence (would is the past of will):
Bruno says he will come to the meeting. (he says it in the present)
Bruno said he would come to the meeting. (he said it in the past)
Bruno said he would come to the meeting. (he said it in the past)
Exercise 1
Use the following words to fill in the blanks in the text. Be careful! Words may be used more than once:
should | would | could
Horatio not be drinking so much whiskey before work.
Every Tuesday, Bruno clips his toenails, even though he like to do it more often than that.
Susie thought Kevin like a new wallet for his birthday.
When he was just a boy, Bruno not distinguish between a rose and a tulip.
Kevin is out driving in his Porsche, but really he be in his office.
Icarus has been feeling really sick. He probably go to the doctor.
should | would | could
Horatio not be drinking so much whiskey before work.
Every Tuesday, Bruno clips his toenails, even though he like to do it more often than that.
Susie thought Kevin like a new wallet for his birthday.
When he was just a boy, Bruno not distinguish between a rose and a tulip.
Kevin is out driving in his Porsche, but really he be in his office.
Icarus has been feeling really sick. He probably go to the doctor.
Use the following words to fill in the blanks in the text. Be careful! Words may be used more than once:
should | would | could
Horatio should 1 not be drinking so much whiskey before work.
Every Tuesday, Bruno clips his toenails, even though he would 2 like to do it more often than that.
Susie thought Kevin would 3 like a new wallet for his birthday.
When he was just a boy, Bruno could 4 not distinguish between a rose and a tulip.
Kevin is out driving in his Porsche, but really he should 5 be in his office.
Icarus has been feeling really sick. He should 6 probably go to the doctor.
should | would | could
Horatio should 1 not be drinking so much whiskey before work.
Every Tuesday, Bruno clips his toenails, even though he would 2 like to do it more often than that.
Susie thought Kevin would 3 like a new wallet for his birthday.
When he was just a boy, Bruno could 4 not distinguish between a rose and a tulip.
Kevin is out driving in his Porsche, but really he should 5 be in his office.
Icarus has been feeling really sick. He should 6 probably go to the doctor.
1 should: 'Should' expresses the notion of duty or obligation. Neither of the other choices (would or could) fits in this sentence.
2 would: 'Would' expresses the idea of willingness or wish. We use it to form the conditional tense.
3 would: 'Would' expresses the idea of willingness or wish. We use it to form the conditional tense.
4 could: 'Could' is the past tense form of the verb 'to be able to'.
5 should: 'Should' expresses the notion of duty or obligation: Kevin is supposed to be in his office (not driving his Porsche). Neither of the other choices (would or could) fits in this sentence.
6 should: 'Should' expresses the notion of duty or obligation. Neither of the other choices (would or could) fits in this sentence.
Exercise 2
Bob Carter be happier if he had more free time.
Bob Carter would be happier if he had more free time.
would: 'Would' can express the idea of willingness or wish. We use it to form the conditional tense. The sentence indicates that IF Bob had more free time, he would be more content. 'WOULD' always completes a clause which begins (or ends) with 'IF'.
should: 'Should' expresses a strong suggestion or advice. It does not make sense here because of the phrase 'if he had more time'.
had: The auxiliary 'had' must be followed by the past participle of a verb when used to form a perfect tense. We might say 'Bob Carter had been happier in the past.'
Exercise 3
I appreciate it if you not smoke on the bus.
I would 1 appreciate it if you would 2 not smoke on the bus.
1 would: 'Would' can be used to express the idea of willingness or wish. We use it to form the conditional tense. This sentence expresses the speaker's wish that someone not smoke on the bus.
1 should: 'Should' expresses the notion of duty or obligation. It does not make sense here. Note: 'Should' is occasionally used to express a similar idea to 'would' as it is used in this sentence. For example, 'I should hope so!'. This is a rare construction, and is no longer very current.
1 could: 'Could' has many uses in English. It can ask a polite question, describe ability in the past (past tense of 'can'), indicate a possibility and introduce the conditional present tense. Using 'could' here, though grammatically correct, doesn't make any sense.
2 would: 'Would' can be used to express a conditional desire. Note: It is acceptable as well to write or say 'I would appreciate it if you did not smoke on the bus' which expresses the same idea as 'I would appreciate it if you would not smoke on the bus.'
2 should: 'Should' expresses the notion of duty or obligation. It does not make sense here.
2 had: The auxiliary 'had' must be followed by the past participle of a verb when used to form a perfect tense. We might say 'I wish you had smoked before you got into my car'.
Exercise 4
Kevin have bought more bio-tech stocks when he had the chance.
Kevin should have bought more bio-tech stocks when he had the chance.
should: 'Should' expresses the strong suggestion or advice. This sentence expresses a regret that Kevin didn't buy more bio-tech stocks when he had the opportunity.
would: 'Would' can be used to express a wish that is conditional. As this sentence isn't conditional, it doesn't make sense to use it here.
Exercise 5
Polly and Philip thought that they never find the test monkey again.
Polly and Philip thought that they would never find the test monkey again.
would: 'Will' becomes 'would' when direct speech ('I will be late') becomes reported speech (He said he would be late). It is exactly the same when we report what someone thought. At the moment of losing the monkey, Polly and Philip think that they will never find the test monkey again. When reporting this past thought, this statement becomes: Polly and Philip thought that they would never find the test monkey again.
should: 'Should' expresses a strong suggestion or advice. It does not make sense to use it in this sentence.
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