How to use would?

would is a modal verb that has the function of an auxiliary verb. As the name implies, it has the function of auxiliary, in this case, the main verb.

Furthermore, would is the past of will.

Examples:

• I will buy that car. (I will buy that car.)
• I would buy that car. (I would buy that car.)

The difference between will and would is that will indicates something that will happen in thefuture and would indicates something that would happen in the past.

As with almost all auxiliary verbs, the verb would in English it does not have a translation by itself and its meaning is subordinate to the verb it helps.

Example: I would travel to New York If I had the money. (I would travel to New York if I had the money.)

Note that in the sentence above would travel is translated as would travel, that is, the meaning of travel (travel) is dominant.

The verb would is used for:

• Indicate possibility;
• Order something politely;
• Offer something;
• Make reference to a hypothetical situation.

when to use would?

would is used to express

indicatepossibility, ask something politely, offer something and reference a hypothetical situation.

he is one of the modal verbs (modal verbs) most important in the English language.

the modal verb would it has the function of helping the main verb in the sentence.

Examples:

• How would you do that? (How would you do that?) – POSSIBILITY
• Would you help me, please? (Could you help me, please?.) – ORDER SOMETHING
• Would you like a cup of coffee? (Would you like a cup of coffee?) – OFFER SOMETHING
• She would buy a house on the beach if she had the money. (She would buy a beach house if she had money.) – HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION

Note that in the hypothetical situation we have a if clause (phrase with if) That is a conditional sentence (conditional sentence), that is, a certain condition must be reality (have money) for another to happen (buy the house).

Whenever we have a conditional sentence with would and if, we are referring to a hypothetical situation that would happen in the past (and it can no longer happen) if a certain situation were reality.

These phrases are called second conditional.

How to use would?

As it is a modal verb, would is always accompanied by a main verb in the infinitive without the I'm.

Example: he would love to meet you. (He would love to meet you.)

In the sentence above, the main verb in the infinitive is I love (love; adore), however, we removed the I'm and we only use love.

The use of would can occur in sentences affirmatives, negative and interrogatives.

Look at the table below and learn how to use the verb would in affirmative, negative and interrogative forms. The main verb used as an example is the verb to buy (purchase).

AFFIRMATIVE	NEGATIVE	INTERROGATIVE
I would/'d buy you would/'d buy He/she/it would/'d buy we would/'d buy you would/'d buy they would/'d buy	I would not buy You would not buy He/she/it would not/wouldn’t buy We would not/wouldn’t buy You would not buy They would not buy	Would I buy? Would you buy? Would he/she/it buy? Would we buy? Would you buy? Would they buy?

IMPORTANT

• If so, we use the would for all people, including he/she/it. the rule of Simple Present which requires the addition of the –s for third-person inflections is not applied here. the contracted form of would é d. Example: I would prefer to stay home = I’d prefer to stay home (I preferred to stay at home).
• To form sentences in negative form, we can use would not or the contracted form would not. The meaning of both forms is the same.
• When making sentences with would in the interrogative form, just change the position of this modal verb in the sentence: unlike what happens in the affirmative, in the interrogative the verb would must be positioned before the subject.
• If we try to make a comparison with the verb tenses of the Portuguese language, would performs the same function as the Past Future.
• When used in interrogative sentences, the would usually expresses the idea that the sender of the message is asking a question in a kind way; polite. Example: Would you do me for? (Could you do me a favor?)

Use of would rather, would prefer and prefer

With regard to the literal meaning of the verb prefer and the voiceovers would rather and would prefer, the translation is the same: to prefer.

Examples:

• I would rather go to the movies. (I prefer/preferred to go to the movies.)
• I would prefer to go to the movies. (I prefer/preferred to go to the movies.)
• I prefer to go to the movies. (I prefer/preferred to go to the movies.)

Use of prefer

The verb prefer (prefer) is used when we want to refer to a general preference that we have in our lives.

If a person says, for example, that he prefers forró, we can understand that in general, that person prefers forró in relation to all other types of music.

In other words, it is not a momentary preference referring to a specific situation, but to a whole.

Examples:

• I prefer to go to the beach on Sundays. (I prefer to go to the beach on Sundays.)
• He prefers to play soccer in the morning. (He prefers to play soccer in the morning.)

Use of would rather and would prefer

the voiceovers would rather and would prefer are synonymous and mean to prefer.

Both are used to reference a more punctual preference and related to a specific situation.

Let's imagine a situation where two friends go to a restaurant but end up not liking the ambient music and one of them suggests going somewhere else.

Example:

THE: Let’s try another place. (Let's try another place.)
B: I am so tired I would prefer to stay here or I am so tired I would rather stay here. (I'm so tired that I prefer/prefer to stay here).

Note that interlocutor B says he prefers to stay where he is in this particular situation; this does not mean that he always prefers this same restaurant in general. In other words, it is a somewhat momentary preference.

Translation: I'd rather walk with a friend in the dark than alone in the light.

Difference between would rather, would prefer and prefer

The difference between would rather, would prefer and prefer is as follows:

• prefer: refers to general preferences that a person has in their life.
• would rather and would prefer: refer to a momentary preference that occurs only in relation to a certain situation.

Video

See the video below with English tips on how to use the modal verb would.

WOULD - UNDERSTANDING ONCE - MrTeacherPaulo

Exercises

1. "I __________ home right now, If I were you"

a) would go
b) would take
c) would look
d) would buy

See Answer

Correct alternative: a) would go

2. ________ you________ to come visit me?

a) Would - to like
b) Would - like
c) Would - like
d) Would - be able to like

See Answer

Correct alternative: b) Would - like

3. I ______________________ that money. I’d prefer to save it.

a) you would spend
b) would not spend
c) d spend
d) would keep

See Answer

Correct alternative: b) would not spend

4. He said he ___________________ her because she is really special for him.

a) would help
b) would not help
c) wouldn’t help
d) would talk

See Answer

Correct alternative: a) would help

Learn more about English verbs:

• How to use the modal might?
• English auxiliary verbs
• Phrasal verbs
• could
• Should
• Reported speech
• Reported speech exercises