Definition of 'would'
Would is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. In spoken English, would is often abbreviated to 'd.
1. modal verb
3. modal verb
4. modal verb
5. modal verb
6. modal verb
7. modal verb
8. modal verb
You use would, especially with 'like', 'love', and 'wish', when saying that someone wants to do or have a particular thing or wants a particular thing to happen.
9. would rather
10. modal verb
11. modal verb
[politeness]
12. modal verb
You use would, usually in questions, when you are politely asking someone to do something.
[politeness] 13. modal verb
14. modal verb
15. modal verb
16. modal verb
You use you would in negative sentences with verbs such as 'guess' and 'know' when you want to say that something is not obvious, especially something surprising.
17. modal verb
You use would to talk about something which happened regularly in the past but which no longer happens.
18. modal verb
You use would have with a past participle when you are saying what was likely to have happened by a particular time.
19. modal verb
You use would have with a past participle when you are referring to the result or effect of a possibleevent in the past.
20. modal verb
21. modal verb
You use would, usually in negative sentences, to criticize something that someone has done and to express your disapproval of it.
22.
See would that
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
English Easy Learning GrammarWouldThe modal verb would is commonly used as follows:
to make a polite request.
Would you mind moving your bag?
Would you give me a hand with this ladder, ... Read more
to make a polite request.
Would you mind moving your bag?
Would you give me a hand with this ladder, ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarConditional clausesConditional sentences consist of a main clause and a conditional clause (sometimescalled an if-clause). The conditional clause usually begins with if ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarModal verbsModal verbs are a particular kind of auxiliary.
Look, I can do it! – Oh yes! So you can.
Can I use your phone? – Of course you can.
Do you think she will ... Read more
Look, I can do it! – Oh yes! So you can.
Can I use your phone? – Of course you can.
Do you think she will ... Read more
Video: pronunciation ofwould
![Youtube video](/static/AZimm/static/picture/hqdefault.jpg?d=3817cc31d&m=AZimm)
Word Frequency
would in British English
verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)
▶ USAGE See note at should1. used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will1
2. (with you, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject)
would you help me, please?
3.
every day we would go for walks
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
would in American English
auxiliary verb
1. pt. of
UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
she said she would be finished before six, in those days we would talk for hours on end
2.
used to express a supposition or condition
he would write if he knew you would answer; I wouldn't do that for anything
verb transitive
see also UNRESOLVED CROSS REF4. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
if only; I wish
would that she were here
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 byHoughton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME wolde < OE, pt. of willan, to wish, UNRESOLVED CROSS REFExamples of 'would' in a sentencewould
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
Trends ofwould
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In other languageswould
British English: would /wʊd/ VERB
You use would to say that someone agreed to do something.
They said they would come to my party.
- American English: would
- Arabic: سَوْفَ
- Brazilian Portuguese: verbo usado para exprimir possibilidade
- Chinese: 将会做
- Croatian: željeti
- Czech: budebudoucí čas v minulosti
- Danish: ville
- Dutch: zou(den)
- European Spanish: verbo auxiliar de condicional
- Finnish: -isitul[isi]
- French: conditionnel
- German: würde
- Greek: θα
- Italian: auxiliary verb for conditional mood
- Japanese: ・・・するつもりだ
- Korean: ~할 것이다
- Norwegian: skal
- Polish: nie tłumaczy się na język polski; służy do tworzenia trybu warunkowego
- European Portuguese: pretérito de will
- Romanian: arse folosește pt. formarea cond. prez. [v. aux., pret. și cond. prez. de la will]
- Russian: согласиться
- Latin American Spanish: hacer en condicional
- Swedish: skulle
- Thai: อยากจะ
- Turkish: ecek, acak
- Ukrainian: допоміжне дієслово для утворення майбутнього в минулому
- Vietnamese: đồng ý sẽ
Source
Definition of would from theCollins English Dictionary
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