WOULD

Would is an auxiliary verb - a modal auxiliary verb. We use would mainly

to:
talk about the past

talk about the future in the past

express the conditional mood
We also use would for other functions, such as:
expressing desire, polite requests and questions, opinion or hope, wish
and regret
STRUCTURE:
• Structure of would
• The basic structure for would is:

• subject + auxiliary verb

• would+ main verb
• Note that:

• The auxiliary verb would is invariable. There is only one form: would
• The main verb is usually in the base form (He would go).
POSITIVE,NEGATIVE AND
QUESTIONS
• Look at the basic structure again, with positive, negative and question
sentences:

• subject auxiliary
• wouldnot main verb
• base
• + I would like tea.
• - She wouldnot go.
• ? Would you help?
• Note that the main verb is sometimes in the form:

• have + past participle (He would have gone)

• be + -ing (He would be going)
• The main verb cannot be the to-infinitive. We cannot say: He would to
like coffee.
IMPORTANT.-
• Be careful! Note that would and had have the same short form 'd:
• He'd finished = He had finished
• He'd like coffee = He would like coffee