BIGpedia - Would - Encyclopedia and Dictionary Online

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1 English

English

would

Indicating in 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 didn't rain.
Indicating a possible (but not definite) future action or state.
We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time.
Indicating an action in the past that was planned or intended.
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?

Would is used with the infinitive of verbs, without to:

"John said he would have fish for dinner."

Historically, would is the past tense of will.

(indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly): used to
(used to express a polite request): be so good as to , kindly, please

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

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 serons plus chauds si vous n'avez pas ouvert la fenêtre!
Italian: Use the conditional tense
- We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Saremmo più caldi se non aveste aperto la finestra!

indicating a possible (but not definite) future action or state

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 demandons si l'autobus serait en retard cette fois.
Italian: Use the conditional tense
French: Use the conditional tense
- We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Ci siamo seduti sul banco, domandandoci se il bus sarebbe in ritardo questa volta.

indicating an action in the past that was planned or intended

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 retournerait tout de suite.
Italian: Use the conditional tense
- The waiter said he would be right back. - Il cameriere ha detto che ritornerebbe subito.

indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly

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 péchions pendant des heures.
Italian: Use the imperfect tense
- In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Durante l'inverno, ci sedevamo presso al buco sul lago gelato e prendevamo pesci da ori.

used to express a polite request

Esperanto: bonvoli
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Bonvolu malŝalti la televidon, mi petas?
French: vouloir, veuillez (imperative)
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Tu veux éteindre la télé, s'il te plaît? (informal); Voulez-vous éteindre la télévision, s'il vous plaît? (formal); Veuillez éteindre la télévision, s'il vous plaît? (formal)
Italian: volere
- Would you please turn off the TV? - Vuoi spegnere la tivù, per favore? (infomal); Volete spegnere la televisione, per favore? (formal)

The translations below need to be checked by native speakers and inserted into the appropriate table(s) above.