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Content tagged with "WOULD"

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Conditionals and inversion

conditionals
inversion
BE TO
IF
SHOULD
WILL
WOULD

In formal English, the subject and the auxiliary can be inverted in the if-clause with if omitted:

Modals in the second conditional

ability
conditionals
modals
permission
possibility
request
BE TO
COULD
MIGHT
WOULD

Main clause

We can use modals other than would in the main clause of a sentence in the second conditional:

Modals to express habits: WILL, WOULD, USED TO

annoyance
criticism
emphasis
habitual actions
modals
USED TO
WILL
WOULD

Present

Would can express annoying habits which are typical of a person:

Tom would do something like that, wouldn't he? It's so typical of him!

Will is used to emphasise the characteristics of a person rather than describing the person himself or herself:

Modals to express willingness / unwillingness: WILL, WOULD

modals
willingness
WILL
WOULD

Present

Will can express willingness in the present:

I will take you to the airport. I have nothing to do tomorrow.
If you will wait for a moment, I'll see if Mr Hawking is available.

Won't can express unwillingness or refusal:

Second conditional

conditionals
future
present
subjunctive
unreal situations
IF
WOULD

if + past subjunctive | would + infinitive (simple or continuous)

The second conditional can describe an unreal situation with reference to the present. We imagine a hypothetical situation which contrasts with reality:

The modal WOULD to express unreal situations

modals
unreal situations
WOULD

Present and future

Would + infinitive can refer to unreal situations in the present or future. An unreal situation is one which is not true in the present or one which may or may not happen in the future:

Third conditional

conditionals
past
perfect
perfect infinitive
subjunctive
unreal situations
IF
WOULD

if + past perfect subjunctive | would + perfect infinitive

The third conditional describes an unreal situation with reference to the past. We imagine a hypothetical situation, something that did not happen:

Wishes about the future

future
IF ONLY
WISH
WOULD

wish / if only + would

This pattern is used for wishes about the future when there is a chance that something may happen or somebody (but not the person who wishes) may change their behaviour:

WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER + bare infinitive

conditionals
infinitive
WOULD
WOULD RATHER
WOULD SOONER

Would rather/sooner is followed by a bare infinitive if the subject of would rather/sooner is the same as the doer of the action expressed by the following verb.

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