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Grammar

Verbs

Would

 

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Would is a modal verb and like all others of its kind is followed by the infinitive without 'to' (Note: weconsider that the modal verb 'ought to' is a single item, as the word 'ought ' does not exist without the word'to'):

Would is often contracted in spoken nglish to 'd!

• I 'd  like to come with you, but I'm busy.

• He'd  sit all day watching the people go by !

Would is a very flexible word and has many uses!"n #rammar definitions would is briefly mentioned under conditionals and reported speech!"n our Grammar Archive see the use of  used to and would for expressing habitual actions in the past!

 $part from this, would is also used in the following ways:%onditionalsWould is used in a number of different forms of the conditional:&nd conditional

• If I went to China, I would  visit the Great Wall.

http:www!edunet!comenglishgrammar"!cfm http:www!englishpage!comconditionalpresentconditional!html *rd conditional

• If she had studied harder, she would  have passed her eams!

http:www!edunet!comenglishgrammar"+!cfm http:www!englishpage!comconditionalpastconditional!htmlixed conditional

• If he hadn't missed the bus, he would  be here now.

http:www!edunet!comenglishgrammar"-!cfm http:www!englishpage!comconditionalmixedconditional!html .ry the following exercises on different conditional forms:http:www!englishpage!comconditionalconditionalexercisepage!html /eported (indirect) speech"n indirect speech 'will ' is reported as would:

• I will  be there! "he said she would  be there.

• I won't  be able to come with you on "aturday. He said he wouldn't  be able to come with us on

"aturday.•   Will  you do me a favour# "he asked if I would  do her a favour. 

http:www!english0at0home!comgrammarreported1speech!php*http:esl!about!comhomeworkesllibrarygrammarblreported!htm .ry the following exercise on reported speech:http:www!ctv!es23/3carmenactivrepspeech!htm  /e4uests and offers5ou can use would to ask people to do things:

•   Would  you do me a favour#

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•   Would  you mind opening the window# 

.o offer or invite you can use Would  you like $# 

•   Would  you like me to get you something while I'm at the shop#

•   Would  you like to come with me to the cinema# 

http:members!nbci!comafonichevmurphyunit66*+!htmluture in the past.his structure is used to %epress the idea that in the past you thought something would  happen in thefuture.% http:www!englishpage!comverbpagefutureinpast!html 

• When she was a teenager she knew she would  be rich and famous.

• It was at that moment that I knew they would  win the game. 

%ommon expressionsWould 7 like:.his structure is used to talk about things that we want or don't want to do:

• &es, I' d  like to go with you.

• I wouldn't  like to be outside now. 

Would rather.his structure is used to express preferences:

• What would  you rather do go to the cinema or stay at home for the evening#

• I' d  rather be poor and happy than rich and sad. 

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