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Unit 36 · Modals

would

Study

A

We use would ('d) / wouldn’t when we imagine a situation or action (= we think of something that is not real):

›

It would be nice to buy a new car, but we can’t afford it.

›

I’d love to live by the sea.

›

a: Shall I tell Chris what happened? b: No, I wouldn’t say anything. (= I wouldn’t say anything in your situation)

We use would have (done) when we imagine something that didn’t happen in the past:

›

They helped us a lot. I don’t know what we’d have done without their help.

(we’d have done = we would have done)

›

It’s a shame you didn’t see the film. You would have liked it.

›

I didn’t tell Sam what happened. He wouldn’t have been pleased.

Compare would (do) and would have (done):

›

I would call Lisa, but I don’t have her number. (now)

›

I would have called Lisa, but I didn’t have her number. (past)

›

I’m not going to invite them to the party. They wouldn’t come anyway.

›

I didn’t invite them to the party. They wouldn’t have come anyway.

We often use would in sentences with if (see Units 38–40):

›

I would call Lisa if I had her number.

›

I would have called Lisa if I’d had her number.

B

Compare will (’ll) and would (’d):

›

I’ll stay a little longer. I’ve got plenty of time.

›

I’d stay a little longer, but I really have to go now. (so I can’t stay longer)

›

I’ll call Lisa. I have her number.

›

I’d call Lisa, but I don’t have her number. (so I can’t call her)

Sometimes would/wouldn’t is the past of will/won’t. Compare:

present past
TOM: I’ll call you on Sunday. Tom said he’d call me on Sunday.
AMY: I promise I won’t be late. Amy promised that she wouldn’t be late.
LISA: Oh, no! The car won’t start. Lisa was annoyed because her car wouldn’t start.

Somebody wouldn’t do something = he/she refused to do it:

›

I tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen to me. (= he refused to listen)

›

The car wouldn’t start. (= it ‘refused’ to start)

C

You can also use would to talk about things that happened regularly in the past:

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When we were children, we lived by the sea. In summer, if the weather was fine, we would all get up early and go for a swim. (= we did this regularly)

›

Whenever Richard was angry, he would walk out of the room.

With this meaning, would is similar to used to (see Unit 18):

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Whenever Richard was angry, he used to walk out of the room.

will ➜ Units 21–22 would … if ➜ Units 38–40 wish … would ➜ Unit 41 would like ➜ Units 37D, 58 would prefer / would rather ➜ Unit 59 Modal verbs ➜ Appendix 4

Exercises (6)

0/6 exercises checked
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36.1

Write sentences about yourself. Imagine things you would like or wouldn’t like.

  1. 1
    (a place you’d love to live) I’d love to live by the sea. example
  2. 2
    (a job you wouldn’t like to do)
  3. 3
    (something you would love to do)
  4. 4
    (something that would be nice to have)
  5. 5
    (a place you’d like to go to)
36.2

Complete the sentences using would + the following verbs (in the correct form):

bebedodoenjoyenjoyhavestop
  1. 1
    They helped us a lot. I don’t know what we without their help.example
  2. 2
    You should go and see the film. I think you it.
  3. 3
    It’s a pity you couldn’t come to the party last night. You it.
  4. 4
    Shall I apply for the job or not? What you in my position?
  5. 5
    I was in a hurry when I saw you. Otherwise I to talk.
  6. 6
    We took a taxi home last night, but got stuck in the traffic. It quicker to walk.
  7. 7
    Why don’t you go and see Clare? She very pleased to see you.
  8. 8
    In an ideal world, everybody enough to eat.
36.3

Each sentence on the right follows a sentence on the left. Which follows which?

  1. 1I’d like to go to Australia one day.
  2. 2I wouldn’t like to live on a busy road.
  3. 3I’m sorry your trip was cancelled.
  4. 4I’m looking forward to going out tonight.
  5. 5I’m glad we didn’t go out in the rain.
  6. 6I’m not looking forward to the trip.
  1. aIt wouldn’t have been very nice.
  2. bIt would have been fun.
  3. cIt would be nice.
  4. dIt won’t be much fun.
  5. eIt wouldn’t be very nice.
  6. fIt will be fun.
36.4

Write sentences using promised + would/wouldn’t.

  1. 1
    I wonder why Laura is late. example
  2. 2
    I wonder why Steve hasn’t called me. He promised
  3. 3
    Why did you tell Amy what I said? You
  4. 4
    I’m surprised they didn’t wait for us. They
36.5

Complete the sentences. Use wouldn’t + a suitable verb.

  1. 1
    I tried to warn him, but he to me.example
  2. 2
    I asked Amanda what had happened, but she me.
  3. 3
    Paul was angry about what I’d said and he to me for two weeks.
  4. 4
    Martina insisted on carrying all her luggage. She me help her.
36.6

Complete the sentences using would (section C). Choose from these verbs:

forgetshakesharesmilestaywalk
  1. 1
    Whenever Richard was angry, he out of the room.example
  2. 2
    We used to live next to a railway line. Every time a train went past, the house .
  3. 3
    Katherine was always very generous. She didn’t have much, but she what she had with everyone else.
  4. 4
    You could never rely on Joe. It didn’t matter how many times you reminded him to do something, he always .
  5. 5
    When we were children, we used to go to the beach a lot. We there all day playing in the sand and swimming in the sea.
  6. 6
    Lucy was always friendly. Whenever I saw her, she always and say hello.