Lesson

Would

Conditional and habits

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Would — uses and meaning

'Would' is a modal verb used to talk about polite requests and offers, hypothetical situations, past habits, preferences, and the future in the past.

  • Polite requests and offers: Would you like some coffee?
  • Hypothetical conditionals: If I had the budget, I would expand the team.
  • Past habitual actions: When I worked there, I would take the train.
  • Future in the past / reported speech: She said she would finish the report.

Table

Common uses of 'would' with examples

Use When Example
Polite requests / offers To make a polite question or offer Would you like a coffee?
Hypothetical conditionals If + past simple, would + base verb If I won the contract, I would hire more staff.
Past habitual actions Repeated actions in the past (often with time phrases) When I lived in Madrid, I would walk to work every day.
Future in the past / Reported speech To report a future intention from a past viewpoint She said she would finish the report by Friday.
Preferences and polite desire Would like / would prefer / would rather I would like to schedule a meeting next week.

Tip

Key rule: structure and placement

Form and position: 'would' + base verb. For negatives, use would not / wouldn't. In conditional sentences, combine with a past tense if-clause.

  • Basic form: subject + would + base verb → I would approve the budget.
  • Negative: I wouldn't sign the contract without review.
  • Second conditional: If + past simple, would + base → If I were CEO, I would invest.
  • Polite question: Would you + base verb? → Would you join the meeting?

Remember: 'would' is followed by the base form of the verb (no -s, no -ed).

Example

Examples in context

Would you like a cup of coffee?

If I won the contract, I would hire more staff.

When I lived in London, I would take the Tube every day.

She said she would finish the report by Friday.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Learners often make predictable errors with 'would'. Watch for these universal pitfalls:

  • Using 'would' with the wrong verb form (e.g., would + past participle instead of base): incorrect → She would went. correct → She would go.
  • Mixing 'would' with 'will' in conditional clauses: incorrect → If it will rain, we would cancel. correct → If it rained, we would cancel.
  • Forgetting that 'would' needs the base verb (no -s in third person): incorrect → He would goes. correct → He would go.
  • Confusing 'would' for factual past events (use past simple or 'used to' instead): When describing past facts, check if 'would' is appropriate.

Focus on verb form and clause tense: these cause most errors.

Quiz

Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'would' for a polite offer:

Hint: Look for the polite question form: 'Would you...?'

Quiz

Complete: If I had the budget, I _____ more staff.

Hint: Think of the structure: If + past, then would + base verb.

Quiz

Which sentence uses 'would' to describe a habitual action in the past?

Hint: Focus on past-time context and repeated action.

Key Points

GrammarPoint

would

modal verb CEFR B1 //wʊd//

A modal used for polite requests, hypothetical situations, past habits, and reported future actions.

Would you attend the meeting tomorrow?

Expression

would like

expression CEFR A2 //wʊd laɪk//

A polite phrase to express desire or request.

I would like to schedule a call next week.

Expression

would rather

expression CEFR B1 //wʊd ˈræðər//

Used to express preference between options.

I would rather meet in the morning than in the afternoon.

GrammarPoint

wouldn't / would not

modal verb (negative) CEFR B1 //ˈwʊdənt//

Negative form of 'would' used to indicate refusal, negative hypothetical, or future in the past negative.

I wouldn't sign the contract without legal advice.

GrammarPoint

conditional (second conditional)

grammar_point CEFR B1 //kənˈdɪʃənəl//

A structure to talk about unreal or unlikely present/future situations: If + past simple, would + base verb.

If I were the manager, I would change the policy.

Vocabulary

hypothetical

adjective CEFR B2 //ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl//

Related to imagined or possible situations, not facts.

We discussed several hypothetical scenarios during the planning session.