Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 32 views

    Would BC

    Uploaded by

    Andrei Marin
    The document discusses the uses of the modal verb 'would' in English grammar. It explains that would is used in conditionals, reported or indirect speech, for requests and offers, to talk about past expectations of the future, and in common expressions like 'would like' and 'would rather'. It provides examples and links to additional resources for each use case.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Would BC

    Uploaded by

    Andrei Marin
    32 views2 pages
    The document discusses the uses of the modal verb 'would' in English grammar. It explains that would is used in conditionals, reported or indirect speech, for requests and offers, to talk about past expectations of the future, and in common expressions like 'would like' and 'would rather'. It provides examples and links to additional resources for each use case.

    Original Description:

    Would bc

    Original Title

    Would bc

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document discusses the uses of the modal verb 'would' in English grammar. It explains that would is used in conditionals, reported or indirect speech, for requests and offers, to talk about past expectations of the future, and in common expressions like 'would like' and 'would rather'. It provides examples and links to additional resources for each use case.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    32 views2 pages

    Would BC

    Uploaded by

    Andrei Marin
    The document discusses the uses of the modal verb 'would' in English grammar. It explains that would is used in conditionals, reported or indirect speech, for requests and offers, to talk about past expectations of the future, and in common expressions like 'would like' and 'would rather'. It provides examples and links to additional resources for each use case.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Grammar

    Verbs
    Would

    Back to Index
    Would is a modal verb and like all others of its kind is followed by the infinitive without 'to' (Note: we
    consider 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 English 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.


    In Grammar definitions would is briefly mentioned under conditionals and reported speech.
    In our Grammar Archive see the use of used to and would for expressing habitual actions in the past.
    Apart from this, would is also used in the following ways:
    Conditionals
    Would is used in a number of different forms of the conditional:
    2nd conditional
    If I went to China, I would visit the Great Wall.
    http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/IF4.cfm
    http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/presentconditional.html
    3rd conditional
    If she had studied harder, she would have passed her exams.
    http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/IF6.cfm
    http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/pastconditional.html
    Mixed conditional
    If he hadn't missed the bus, he would be here now.
    http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/IF8.cfm
    http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/mixedconditional.html
    Try the following exercises on different conditional forms:
    http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalexercisepage.html
    Reported (indirect) speech
    In indirect speech 'will' is reported as would:
    I will be there! She said she would be there.
    I won't be able to come with you on Saturday. He said he wouldn't be able to come with us on
    Saturday.
    Will you do me a favour? She asked if I would do her a favour.
    http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/reported_speech.php3
    http://esl.about.com/homework/esl/library/grammar/blreported.htm
    Try the following exercise on reported speech:
    http://www.ctv.es/USERS/carmen/activ/repspeech.htm
    Requests and offers
    You can use would to ask people to do things:
    Would you do me a favour?

    Would you mind opening the window?

    To 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.com/afonichev/murphy/unit0036.html
    Future in the past
    This structure is used to "express the idea that in the past you thought something would happen in the
    future."
    http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureinpast.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.
    Common expressions
    Would + like:
    This structure is used to talk about things that we want or don't want to do:
    Yes, I'd like to go with you.
    I wouldn't like to be outside now.
    Would rather
    This 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.

    Top

    Produced in the United Kingdom by The British Council 2000. The British Council is the United Kingdom's international
    organisation for educational and cultural relations. Registered in England as a Charity.

    You might also like