Set fire to the rain

● Listen to the song "Set Fire To The Rain" and watch the video again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93dCIYaB4Os

a) Pay special attention to this part of the song:

I let it fall, my heart,

And as it fell you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me

My hands, they're strong

But my knees were far too weak
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet

But there's a side to you

That I never knew, never knew
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true
And the games you play
You would always win, always win.

Is it referring to the past or the present?

____It´s referring to the past_________

b) Now, pay attention to this phrase from that part:

You would always win.

Is it referring to a repeated action in the past or an eventual action? (¿Se refiere a

una acción que se repite o a un hecho eventual?)

____It´s referring to a repeated action in the past. _______

c) Complete the rule.

So, we can say WOULD is used to speak about a ___past__ action that
(past / present)
was a __usually repeated___ and it is not any more.
(single event – sólo un hecho aislado. / usually repeated)

d) Now, pay attention to this phrase from that part:

All the things you'd say.

This is the same as “All the things you would say”.

e) Complete the rule.

So, we can say ‘D is the short form of ___would___ .

After WOULD the verb is in ___infinitive___ form. For example, would win, ‘d say.
(ing / infinitive)

● Grammar

Would and used (to) have somewhat similar meanings. Both of them refer to a past

habit. However, Would expresses an activity was a past routine, typical

behavior,  having duration  or  repetition.

Used to can be in affirmative, negative and question form. However, Would is only

used with this meaning in affirmative form.

(Would y Used to tienen un significado similar. Ambos nos cuentan sobre un hábito

pasado. Sin embargo, Would habla sólo de actividades.

Used to puede ser usado en forma afirmativa, negativa e interrogativa. Sin embargo,

Would se usa sólo en forma positiva con este significado.)

Would expresses that an activity was frequently repeated. So, it cannot refer to past

states. When we talk about activities, we refer to actions. For example, run, go, walk,

swim, etc. When we talk about states, we refer to the matter of being, possession,

likes, believing. For example, be, have, think, believe, like, love, hate, etc. (Would

expresa que una actividad era frecuentemente repetida. Entonces, no puede hablar de

un estado. Cuando hablamos de actividades, nos referimos a las acciones. Por ejemplo,

correr, ir, caminar, nadar, etc. Cuando hablamos de estados, nos referimos a la

situación de ser, posesión, gustos, creencias. Por ejemplo, ser, estar, tener, creer,

gustar, amar, odiar – fíjense que estos verbos no denotan una acción.)

I used to get up very early last year. = I would get up early last year. (Puedo decirlo de
las 2 formas)

(used to + action) (would + action)

I used to be the best student. (No puedo expresar esta idea con Would porque ser es un estado,
no es una acción.)

(used to + state)
I didn’t use to watch so much TV. (No lo puedo expresar con Would porque es una oración
negativa.)

I didn’t use to have so much free time. (No lo puedo expresar con Would porque es una oración
negativa y además, tener es un estado.)

Did you use to stay at home so much time? (No lo puedo expresar con Would porque es una
pregunta.)

USED TO Actions and states (I used to go to school.

I used to like dolls.)

Affirmative (I used to play volley ball.)

PAST Negative and question

HABITS (I didn’t use to play football.

What sport did you use to play?)

WOULD Actions (I would run in the park.)

Affirmative (I would do my homework.)

● Practice

Now, let’s have some practice. Follow the link and do the activities on the website.

When you finish, click “score” to check your answers.

https://elt.oup.com/student/solutions/upperint/grammar/grammar_02_012e?

cc=global&selLanguage=en