Modal Verb WOULD 🎞️ Learn English Grammar Through Movies! 🎦

Summary

In this lesson, the speaker recommends 10 romantic comedies, counting down to their favorite, while exploring different uses of the modal verb 'would.' From expressing desires ('would love to') to making polite offers ('would you like'), the video highlights how 'would' can convey hypothetical situations, past habits, preferences, and refusals. Movies such as 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Notting Hill' are discussed to illustrate these grammar points in action. The speaker also encourages viewers to share their own movie suggestions and join their learning community for more grammar lessons.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker enjoys romantic comedies as a genre for language practice, as they feature a lot of everyday conversation.
• 😀 The lesson focuses on the use of the modal verb 'would' in different contexts, including hypothetical situations, preferences, and politeness.
• 😀 'Would' is used to express desires or polite offers, like in 'I would love to' or 'Would you like to?'
• 😀 The speaker reviews 10 romantic comedies, with a countdown to their favorite, while highlighting the use of 'would' in each example.
• 😀 'Would prefer' and 'Would rather' are useful for making polite suggestions and stating alternatives.
• 😀 'Would' is also used to talk about past habits (e.g., 'He would lie all the time').
• 😀 'Would' can express hypothetical situations, such as when speaking about unreal past conditions (e.g., 'If no one had told me, I would have believed').
• 😀 The speaker suggests that romantic comedies like 'Sleepless in Seattle' and 'When Harry Met Sally' are great for practicing language due to their relatable dialogue.
• 😀 Hypothetical statements with 'would' are also helpful for expressing uncertainty or opinions in a less direct way, such as 'You would think that they could figure out the truth'.
• 😀 The lesson concludes with a reminder to be polite and open in language, using 'Would' to express willingness or openness, like 'I'd be happy to help'.

Q & A

How does the speaker recommend using romantic comedies for language practice?

The speaker recommends using romantic comedies because they often feature everyday conversation, making them ideal for language practice. These films provide real-life dialogue that helps learners improve their conversational skills.

What is the significance of the modal verb 'would' in this lesson?

'Would' is highlighted in the lesson as a versatile modal verb used to express desires, preferences, hypothetical situations, past habits, and polite offers or suggestions. The lesson demonstrates these uses through examples from romantic comedies.

What is the difference between 'would' and 'used to' when referring to past habits?

'Would' and 'used to' both refer to past habits, but 'would' can only be used with action verbs, while 'used to' can describe both actions and states. For example, 'He used to lie all the time' vs. 'He would lie all the time.'

How does the speaker explain the use of 'would rather' and 'would prefer'?

'Would rather' and 'would prefer' are used to express choices or preferences. 'Would rather' is followed by a verb, e.g., 'I'd rather watch a movie with more drama,' while 'would prefer' can be followed by a noun or infinitive verb, e.g., 'Would you prefer a Hollywood classic?'

What does the speaker mean by 'future in the past' with the example from 'The Cutting Edge'?

The 'future in the past' refers to describing a future event from the perspective of a past time. In 'The Cutting Edge,' the speaker says, 'The hockey player had no idea that one day he would have a career in figure skating,' showing how the future was imagined from a past perspective.

What is the difference between 'would' and 'would have' in conditional sentences?

'Would' is used for present or future hypothetical situations, e.g., 'I would love to go,' while 'would have' is used for past hypothetical situations, often in unreal conditionals, e.g., 'If I had known, I would have gone.'

Can 'would' be used in reported speech? How?

Yes, 'would' can be used in reported speech to report someone’s words, especially when the statement refers to the future from a past perspective. For example, 'She said she would help us' reports what someone said about future actions.

How does the movie *When Harry Met Sally* illustrate the use of 'would rather' and 'would prefer'?

In *When Harry Met Sally*, 'would rather' and 'would prefer' are used to express preferences. For example, one might say, 'I’d rather watch a movie with more drama,' or 'Would you prefer a different kind of movie?' to discuss alternative options.

What role does 'would hate to' play in the context of the movie *While You Were Sleeping*?

'Would hate to' expresses a desire to avoid something, as seen in *While You Were Sleeping* when the character says, 'She would hate to upset them,' indicating a reluctance to cause harm or distress.

How does the speaker connect the use of 'would' with politeness and hypothetical situations?

The speaker connects 'would' with politeness through phrases like 'Would you like' or 'I would love to,' making requests or suggestions sound more polite. It also appears in hypothetical situations to discuss unreal or imagined outcomes, such as 'If I were you, I would watch this movie.'