verb
would
wuhd
verb
1
Used to describe what someone was going to do, from the point of view of the past.
"She said she would call as soon as she landed."
2
Used to describe something that used to happen repeatedly in the past.
"Every summer we would drive down to the coast."
3
Used to describe a hypothetical result, given a certain condition.
"If I had more time, I would learn the piano."
4
Used to make a polite request or offer.
"Would you pass the salt, please?"
How to Use Would
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past-tense/conditional form of "will" — used for past habits, hypotheticals, and polite requests.
Common mistake
Avoid "would of" — it should always be "would have" (the confusion comes from the contraction "would've" sounding like "would of").
Common pairings
would rather
would like
would have
Word Forms
woulds plural
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She said she _____ call as soon as she landed.
Etymology
The past tense of "will," from Old English wolde.