How to Use Would in English - English Modal Verbs

Summary

In this lesson, viewers learn about the versatile modal verb 'would' in English. The video covers its various uses, including expressing hypothetical or unreal situations (e.g., 'What would you do if...?'), making polite requests, reporting speech, and referring to past refusals. The lesson also explores how 'would' can indicate repeated actions in the past, and highlights the differences between 'will' and 'would'. Through examples, the video clarifies that 'would' is not always tied to the past, and its meaning depends on the context and sentence structure. The content helps learners understand 'would' in a range of everyday situations.

Takeaways

• 😀 'Would' is a modal verb in English with multiple meanings, often used in imaginary or unreal situations.
• 😀 When talking about highly unlikely or impossible scenarios, we use 'would' to express the hypothetical (e.g., 'What would you do if you were attacked by a shark?').
• 😀 'Would' is used to talk about impossible situations in the present or future (e.g., 'I would help you if I could,' when you can't actually help).
• 😀 The past form of 'would' (e.g., 'would have') can be used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past (e.g., 'What would you have said if she’d seen you?').
• 😀 In polite requests, 'would' can make the sentence sound more formal and respectful (e.g., 'Would you mind telling me the time?').
• 😀 'Would' is often used in reported speech to express what someone else said or promised, replacing 'will' (e.g., 'She said she would be on time.').
• 😀 'Would' can express refusal or the inability to do something, similar to the past form of 'will' (e.g., 'My car wouldn’t start this morning.').
• 😀 'Would' is used to describe repeated actions in the past that no longer occur, similar to 'used to' but only for actions (e.g., 'When I was younger, I would go running every day.').
• 😀 There is no direct connection between all uses of 'would'; its meaning depends entirely on the context of the sentence.
• 😀 The relationship between 'will' and 'would' can sometimes be linked, especially in reported speech and expressing refusal, but not in all uses.
• 😀 'Would' can refer to different times (past, present, or future), and its meaning depends on the context rather than an inherent past tense usage.

Q & A

What is the main use of 'would' discussed in the video?

The main use of 'would' in the video is to talk about imaginary or unreal situations, especially those that are unlikely or impossible.

Why do we use 'would' in the sentence 'What would you do if you were attacked by a shark?'

'Would' is used in this sentence because getting attacked by a shark is very unlikely, making it an imaginary situation.

What does 'would' indicate when talking about impossible situations?

'Would' indicates that the situation is imagined and not true, such as when you say 'I would help you if I could,' which shows that you can't actually help.

How do we use 'would have' to talk about the past?

'Would have' plus a past participle is used to describe actions in hypothetical past situations, like 'What would you have said if she’d seen you?'

What is the difference between 'would' and 'would have'?

'Would' is used to describe hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future, while 'would have' is used to describe actions or events that could have occurred in the past but did not.

How does 'would' help make requests sound more polite?

'Would' can make requests sound more polite, such as in 'Would you mind telling me the time?' or 'Would you get me a sandwich?'

How is 'would' used in reported speech?

In reported speech, 'would' replaces 'will' when quoting someone's future statements, like 'My friend promised she’d be on time,' where 'will' becomes 'would' to reflect what was said in the past.

What does it mean when we say 'My car wouldn’t start this morning'?

In this context, 'would' refers to something that refused to happen, as if the car 'refused' to start. This usage of 'would' expresses an action that didn’t happen or was not possible.

How is 'would' used to talk about repeated actions in the past?

'Would' is used to talk about actions that were repeated regularly in the past, such as 'When I was training for the marathon, I would go running every day.' However, it can't be used for past states, like 'I would live in a small flat.'

What is the key takeaway about the relationship between 'will' and 'would'?

'Will' and 'would' can have connected meanings in certain contexts, such as in reported speech or when expressing refusal. However, in many other uses, like hypothetical situations, 'will' and 'would' have different meanings.