- pronunciation:
- wUd
- phrases:
- would just as soon, would like, would rather
- features:
- Note, Homophone Note, Grammatical Patterns
| part of speech: |
auxiliary verb |
| definition 1: |
used as a past form of "will1" after verbs in the past tense that report speech or thoughts.
He said he would call us from the airport.[modal verb + bare infinitive
]
|
| definition 2: |
used with the equivalent meaning of "will1" but showing that the action or state referred to in the clause is unreal.
I would make a lot of changes if I owned this company.[modal verb + bare infinitive
]
If I had the money, I would lend it to you, but you know I'm completely broke right now.[modal verb + bare infinitive
]
|
| definition 3: |
used to form polite requests.
Would you close the window?[modal verb + bare infinitive
]
|
| definition 4: |
used to make a statement of one's opinion or desire sound more tentative and therefore less assertive and potentially more acceptable to others.
I would prefer to meet on Friday, if that's convenient for you.[modal verb + bare infinitive
]
I would think that this might be the best option for all of us.[modal verb + bare infinitive
]
|
| definition 5: |
used to describe a characteristic behavior of someone or something in the past.
When I was sick as a child, my mother would always make me chicken soup.[modal verb + bare infinitive
]
Do you remember how this step would always creak when we tried to sneak in late?[modal verb + bare infinitive
]
|
| phrase: |
would just as soon, would like, would rather |
would like or want?
Want is used to express, in an informal manner, a desire or need for something.
Would like is a more formal or polite way to express a desire or need for something. We also use
would like when we have a desire for something that we think is not likely to happen or is not planned. We use
want when we are more certain that something will happen.
Compare:
- Do you want some coffee? (informal)
- Would you like a cup of coffee? (formal, polite)
- I would like to go to Spain someday. (It's a wish that I have, but I don't know if it will ever happen.)
- Where do you want to go for your vacation? I want to go to Florida. (I will go somewhere, probably to Florida.)
The words
would and
wood (a hard material from trees) sound alike but have different meanings.