Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Wikipedia
[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
- (stressed)
- (unstressed)
- Homophones: wood
would
- Indicating an action or state that is conditional on another.
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window!
- Bill said he would go if it weren't raining.
- Simple past of will.
- Indicating futurity relative to a past time.
- We didn't know it yet, but those would be his last words.
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time.
- The waiter said he would be right back.
- Indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly.
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours.
- Used to express a polite request.
- Would you please turn off the TV?
- To wish, to desire; often with implied first-person singular subject; see usage notes.
- Would to God that it were true.
- 1843, G. H. Barlow, "Concluding Remarks of the Introductory Address Delivered at Guy's Hospital, at the Commencement of the Medical Session, 1843 44", in Thomas Wakley (editor), The Lancet for 1843-1844, Volume I, John Churchill (printer), page 242:
- I would, indeed, if it were possible, that you were each of you conversant with the whole world of natural science, finding yourself at home and at ease in every region; but I would that you were so in order to be chiefs in your own particular province.
[edit] Quotations
- 1974, United States, Congress, Committee on the Judiciary, House - Watergate Affair, 1972-1974, Statement of Information: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary, page 133:
- […] the President said there would be no difficulty about raising the money and you say the only difference in the tape is that the President also added that but that would be wrong.
[edit] Usage notes
- As an auxiliary verb, would is followed by the bare infinitive (without to):
- John said he would have fish for dinner.
- Historically, would is the past tense of will, and this may still be seen in some of its uses.
- Would is frequently contracted to 'd, especially after a pronoun (as in I'd, you'd, and so on).
- Indicating a wish, would takes a clause in the past subjunctive (irrealis) mood; this clause may or not be introduced with that. A call to a deity or other higher power is sometimes interposed after would and before this clause, as in Would to God that […]; see the citations page for examples.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Translations
Note: many languages express some meanings of would using a mood or tense rather than by a particular word.
indicating in action or state that is conditional on another
- Catalan: Use the conditional tense
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Estariem més calents si no hagueres obert la finestra!
- Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
- Het zou hier warmer zijn, als je het venster niet had geopend/niet zou hebben geopend
- Esperanto: Use the conditional tense
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Ni estus pli varmaj se vi ne malfermus la fenestron!
- French: Use the conditional tense
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Nous aurions plus chaud si vous n'eusses pas ouvert la fenêtre !
- German: Use the conjunctive mood
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Uns wäre wärmer, wenn du das Fenster nicht geöffnet hättest!
- Hungarian: Use the conditional tense, -na/-ne/-ná/-né
- It would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Melegebb volna, ha nem nyitottad volna ki az ablakot!
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- Italian: Use the conditional tense
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Staremmo più al caldo se tu non avessi aperto la finestra!
- Polish: Use the conditional tense (-by-)
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Byłoby nam cieplej, gdybyś nie otworzył okna!
- Portuguese: use the conditional tense
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Estaríamos mais quentes se você não tivesse aberto a janela.
- Russian: Use the conditional tense (бы)
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Было бы теплее, если бы ты не открыл окно!
- Spanish: Use the conditional tense
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - ¡Estaríamos más calientes si no hubieras abierto la ventana!
- Swedish: skulle
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Vi skulle vara varmare om du inte hade öppnat fönstret!
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indicating a possible (but not definite) future action or state
- Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
- We zaten op de bank ons afvragend of de bus deze keer te laat zou zijn.
- Esperanto: Use the future tense
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Ni sidis sur la benko nin demandante, ĉu la buso malfruos ĉi tiun fojon.
- French: Use the conditional tense
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Nous nous sommes assis sur le banc, nous demandant si l'autobus serait en retard cette fois.
- German: Use the conjunctive mood
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Wir saßen auf der Bank und fragten uns, ob der Bus diesmal zu spät käme.
- Hungarian: Use the future or present tense with -e
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - A padon ültünk, és azon gondolkoztunk, hogy ezúttal elkésik-e a busz.
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- Italian: Use the conditional perfect tense
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Ci siamo seduti sulla panchina, domandandoci se il bus sarebbe stato in ritardo questa volta.
- Russian: Use the future tense with (ли)
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Мы сидели на скамейке и гадали, опоздает ли автобус.
- Spanish: Use the conditional tense
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Nos sentamos en el banco, preguntándonos si el autobús llegaría tarde esta vez
- Swedish: skulle
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Vi satt på bänken och undrade om bussen skulle bli sen den här gången.
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indicating an action in the past that was planned or intended
- Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
- De ober zei dat hij meteen terug zou keren
- Esperanto: Use the future tense
- The waiter said he would be right back. - La kelnero diris, ke li tuj revenos.
- French: Use the conditional tense
- The waiter said he would be right back. - Le garçon a dit qu'il reviendrait tout de suite.
- German: Use the conjunctive mood
- The waiter said he would be right back. - Der Kellner sagte, er sei sofort wieder da.
- Hungarian: Use the future or present tense
- The waiter said he would be right back. - A pincér azt mondta, hogy mindjárt visszajön.
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- Italian: Use the conditional perfect tense
- The waiter said he would be right back. - Il cameriere ha detto che sarebbe ritornato subito.
- Russian: Use the future tense
- The waiter said he would be right back. - Официант сказал, что скоро вернется.
- Spanish: Use the conditional tense
- The waiter said he would be right back. - El camarero ha dicho que volvería enseguida.
- Swedish: skulle
- The waiter said he would be right back. - Kyparen sa att han strax skulle komma tillbaka.
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indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly
- Dutch: Use the past tense
- 's winters zaten we bij het gat in het bevroren meer en visten we urenlang.
- Esperanto: Use the past tense in the repetitive aspect
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - En la vintroj, ni sidadis apud la truo sur la frostiĝinta lago kaj fiŝkaptadis dum horoj.
- French: Use the imperfect tense
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - En hiver, nous nous asseyions à côté du trou sur le lac gelé et nous pêchions pendant des heures.
- German: Use the preterite tense and immer for emphasis on the repetitive nature
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Im Winter saßen wir immer um ein Loch auf den gefrorenen See und angelten stundenlang.
- Hungarian: Use the past tense
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Minden télen órákat ültünk a jégen a lyuk mellett, és halásztunk.
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- Italian: Use the imperfect tense
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - D'inverno ci sedevamo presso al buco sul lago ghiacciato e pescavamo per ore.
- Russian: Use the past tense with imperfective aspect
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Зимой мы сидели у лунки на замерзшем озере и часами рыбачили.
- Spanish: Use the imperfect tense
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - En invierno, nos sentábamos cerca del agujero que hay en el lago congelado y pescábamos durante horas
- Swedish: bruka
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - På vintrarna brukade vi sitta vid vaken i den frusna sjön och fiska i flera timmar.
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used to express a polite request
- Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen), gelieve
- Zou u a.u.b. de TV kunnen uitzetten, Gelieve de TV uit te schakelen, a.u.b.
- Esperanto: bonvoli
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Bonvolu malŝalti la televidon, mi petas?
- Finnish: Use the conditional
- French: vouloir, veuillez (imperative)
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Pourrais-tu éteindre la télé, s'il te plaît? (informal); Pourriez-vous éteindre la télévision, s'il vous plaît? (formal)
- German: Use the conditional paraphrase employing würden
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Würden Sie bitte den Fernseher ausschalten?
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- Hungarian: Use the conditional
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Kérlek, lekapcsolnád a TV-t?
- Italian: volere
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Vuoi spegnere la tivù, per favore? (infomal); Vuole spegnere la televisione, per favore? (formal)
- Russian: Use the conditional parafrase with negative or imperative with пожалуйста
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Телевизор не выключите?, Выключите, пожалуйста, телевизор.
- Spanish: por favor
- Would you please turn off the TV? - ¿Podría apagar la televisión, por favor? (infomal); Me haría el favor de apagar la televisión? (very formal)
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[edit] Related terms
[edit] See also
