Lección

Would

Conditional and habits

≈ 15 min 8 bloque(s)

Text

Would — usos y significado

'Would' es un verbo modal que se usa para solicitudes/ofertas educadas, situaciones hipotéticas, hábitos pasados, preferencias y el futuro en pasado.

  • Solicitudes y ofertas educadas: Would you like some coffee?
  • Condicionales hipotéticos: If I had the budget, I would expand the team.
  • Acciones habituales en el pasado: When I worked there, I would take the train.
  • Futuro en pasado / estilo indirecto: 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

Regla clave: estructura y colocación

Forma y posición: 'would' + verbo en forma base. Para la negación, use would not / wouldn't. En oraciones condicionales, combínelo con una cláusula en pasado.

  • Forma básica: subject + would + base verb → I would approve the budget.
  • Negativa: I wouldn't sign the contract without review.
  • Segundo condicional: If + past simple, would + base → If I were CEO, I would invest.
  • Pregunta educada: Would you + base verb? → Would you join the meeting?

Recuerde: 'would' va seguido de la forma base del verbo (sin -s, sin -ed).

Example

Ejemplos en contexto

Would you like a cup of coffee?

¿Le gustaría una taza de café?

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

Si ganara el contrato, contrataría más personal.

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

Cuando vivía en Londres, tomaba el metro todos los días.

She said she would finish the report by Friday.

Ella dijo que terminaría el informe para el viernes.

Tip

Errores comunes a evitar

Los estudiantes suelen cometer errores previsibles con 'would'. Tenga cuidado con estos escollos universales:

  • Usar 'would' con la forma verbal equivocada (ej. would + participio pasado en lugar de la forma base): incorrecto → She would went. correcto → She would go.
  • Mezclar 'would' con 'will' en cláusulas condicionales: incorrecto → If it will rain, we would cancel. correcto → If it rained, we would cancel.
  • Olvidar que 'would' necesita la forma base del verbo (sin -s en tercera persona): incorrecto → He would goes. correcto → He would go.
  • Confundir 'would' con hechos pasados reales (usar past simple o 'used to' cuando proceda).

Enfoque en la forma verbal y el tiempo de la cláusula: son las causas principales de error.

Quiz

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

Pista: Busca la forma de pregunta educada: 'Would you...?'

Quiz

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

Pista: Piensa en la estructura: If + past, then would + base verb.

Quiz

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

Pista: Concéntrese en el contexto de tiempo pasado y la acción repetida.

Puntos clave

GrammarPoint

would

modal verb CEFR B1 //wʊd//

Un modal usado para solicitudes educadas, situaciones hipotéticas, hábitos pasados y futuro en pasado.

would

Would you attend the meeting tomorrow?

¿Asistiría a la reunión mañana?

Expression

would like

expression CEFR A2 //wʊd laɪk//

Una frase cortés para expresar deseo o solicitud.

gustaría

I would like to schedule a call next week.

Me gustaría programar una llamada la próxima semana.

Expression

would rather

expression CEFR B1 //wʊd ˈræðər//

Usado para expresar preferencia entre opciones.

preferiría

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

Preferiría reunirme por la mañana que por la tarde.

GrammarPoint

wouldn't / would not

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

Forma negativa de 'would' usada para indicar rechazo, hipotético negativo, o futuro en pasado negativo.

no ... (wouldn't)

I wouldn't sign the contract without legal advice.

No firmaría el contrato sin asesoría legal.

GrammarPoint

conditional (second conditional)

grammar_point CEFR B1 //kənˈdɪʃənəl//

Estructura para hablar de situaciones irreales o improbables en presente/futuro: If + past simple, would + base verb.

condicional (segundo condicional)

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

Si yo fuera el gerente, cambiaría la política.

Vocabulary

hypothetical

adjective CEFR B2 //ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl//

Relacionado con situaciones imaginadas o posibles, no hechos.

hipotético

We discussed several hypothetical scenarios during the planning session.

Discutimos varios escenarios hipotéticos durante la sesión de planificación.