| A |
We use would ('d) I 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 situations or actions in the past (= things that didn't happen):
- They helped us a lot. I don't know what we'd have done
(= we would have done) without their help.
- 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.
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| 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: Damn! 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:
- 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):
- Whenever Richard was angry, he used to walk out of the room.
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