Free English Grammar - Mary Ansell 2000

Chapter 8. Conjugations with the auxiliary would

1. Uses of the auxiliary Would

English verbs conjugated with the auxiliary would are used in a variety of ways. For instance, the auxiliary would is often used in polite requests and suggestions. In the following examples, the verbs conjugated with would are underlined.

e.g. Would you please tell me the time?

Perhaps it would be a good idea to call the office.

The auxiliary would can also express a future in the past, and is used in reporting statements and questions which pertained to the future at the time they were made. e.g. She asked if we would help her the next day.

They said they would arrange to meet us the following week.

The auxiliary would can also be used in wishes pertaining to the future, and in the main clauses of sentences containing false or improbable conditions. These two uses of the auxiliary would will be discussed in the next chapter.

e.g. I wish they would help us.

It would have saved time if I had known what to do.

2. Formation of conjugations with the auxiliary Would

There are four types of conjugation formed with the auxiliary would: the Simple, the Continuous, the Perfect, and the Perfect Continuous.

The conjugations with would are formed in the same way as the Future conjugations, except that instead of will and shall, would and should are used. In the conjugations with would, should may be used for the first person in British English; however, would is normally used for the first person in American English.

Like will and shall, would is a modal auxiliary. When verbs are conjugated with modal auxiliaries, the results are sometimes referred to as moods rather than tenses.

a. The simple conjugation with the auxiliary Would

The Simple conjugation with the auxiliary would is used to express non-continuous actions.

In spoken English, the auxiliary would is frequently contracted to 'd. It should be noted that this contraction is the same as that used for had.

In the case of the verb to work, the Simple conjugation with the auxiliary would is as follows:

Without Contractions

I would work

you would work

he would work

she would work

it would work

we would work

they would work

With Contractions

I'd work

you'd work

he'd work

she'd work

it'd work

we'd work

they'd work

The contraction it'd is used less frequently than the other contractions, since it is more difficult to pronounce.

As illustrated below, the word order for questions and negative statements in the Simple conjugation with the auxiliary would is similar to that in other English conjugations. The negative tag questions are underlined.

In spoken English, would not is frequently contracted to wouldn't.

Simple conjugation with Would

See Exercises 1 and 2.

The Simple conjugation with the auxiliary would is often used in polite requests and suggestions.

e.g. Would you please pass the butter?

Perhaps it would be best to postpone the meeting.

In the first example, would pass is used in a polite request. In the second example, would be is used in a polite suggestion.

See Exercise 3.

b. The continuous conjugation with the auxiliary Would

The Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would is used to express continuous, ongoing actions.

In the case of the verb to work, the Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would is as follows:

I would be working

you would be working

he would be working

she would be working

it would be working

we would be working

they would be working

As illustrated below, the word order for questions and negative statements in the Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would is similar to that in other English conjugations. The negative tag questions are underlined.

Continuous conjugation with Would

See Exercises 4 and 5.

c. The perfect conjugation with the auxiliary Would

In the case of the verb to work, the Perfect conjugation with the auxiliary would is as follows:

I would have worked

you would have worked

he would have worked

she would have worked

it would have worked

we would have worked

they would have worked

As illustrated below, the word order for questions and negative statements in the Perfect conjugation with the auxiliary would is similar to that in other English conjugations. The negative tag questions are underlined.

Perfect conjugation with Would

See Exercises 6 and 7.

Unlike the Perfect conjugations in the English past, present, and future tenses, the Perfect conjugation with the auxiliary would is not generally used to express an action completed by a certain time.

Instead, the Perfect conjugation with the auxiliary would may be used as a past form of the Simple conjugation with the auxiliary would. The verbs in the following examples are underlined.

Present Form

I would like that.

We would write to him.

Past Form

I would have liked that.

We would have written to him.

In the first example, the Perfect conjugation would have liked is used as the past form of the Simple conjugation would like. In the second example, the Perfect conjugation would have written is used as the past form of the Simple conjugation would write.

See Exercises 8 and 9.

d. The perfect continuous conjugation with the auxiliary Would

In the case of the verb to work, the Perfect Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would is as follows:

I would have been working

you would have been working

he would have been working

she would have been working

it would have been working

we would have been working

they would have been working

As illustrated below, the word order for questions and negative statements in the Perfect Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would is similar to that in other English conjugations. The negative tag questions are underlined.

Perfect continuous conjugation with Would

See Exercises 10 and 11.

Like the Perfect conjugation with the auxiliary would, the Perfect Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would is not generally used to express an action completed by a certain time.

Instead, the Perfect Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would may be used as a past form of the Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would. The verbs in the following examples are underlined.

Present Form

I would be waiting outside.

He would be helping you.

Past Form

I would have been waiting outside.

He would have been helping you.

In the first example, the Perfect Continuous conjugation would have been waiting is used as the past form of the Continuous conjugation would be waiting. In the second example, the Perfect Continuous conjugation would have been helping is used as the past form of the Continuous conjugation would be helping.

See Exercise 12.

3. Summary of the formation of the conjugations with the auxiliary Would

The following table summarizes the formation of the conjugations with the auxiliary would.

Conjugation

Simple

Continuous

Perfect

Perfect Continuous

Auxiliary

would

would be

would have

would have been

Verb Form

bare infinitive

present participle

past participle

present participle

4. The "future in the past"

The modal auxiliary would is the past form of the modal auxiliary will. For this reason, the auxiliary would can be used to form what is sometimes called a future in the past.

The future in the past is used in reporting statements and questions which pertained to the future at the time they were made. In the following examples, the verbs in the main clauses are printed in bold type, and the verbs in the subordinate clauses are underlined.

Tense of Verb in Main Clause

Simple Present

Simple Past

Complete Sentence

I think you will succeed.

I thought you would succeed.

In the sentence I think you will succeed, the verb of the main clause, think, is in the Simple Present, and the verb of the subordinate clause, will succeed, is in the Simple Future. If the verb think is changed to the Simple Past, then the verb will succeed must also be put into the past, by using the auxiliary would instead of will.

The following are other examples of the use of the future in the past:

Tense of Verb in Main Clause

Simple Present

Simple Past

Simple Present

Simple Past

Complete Sentence

She says she will visit us next week.

She said she would visit us the following week.

They know that we will be arriving tomorrow.

They knew that we would be arriving the next day.

In both pairs of examples, when the verb in the main clause is changed from the Simple Present to the Simple Past, the verb in the subordinate clause is changed from a future tense to the future in the past, by changing the auxiliary will to would.

It should be noted that adverb and adverb phrases such as tomorrow, yesterday and next year can be used only with reference to present time. When used with reference to past or future time, as in reported speech, these adverbs and adverb phrases must be changed.

For instance, tomorrow must be changed to an expression such as the next day or the following day; and next year must be changed to an expression such as the next year or the following year. Other examples are given in the table below.

Used with Reference to Present Time

tomorrow

today

yesterday

next week

this week

last week

next year

this year

last year

Used with Reference to Past or Future Time

the next day or the following day

that day or the same day

the day before or the previous day

the next week or the following week

that week or the same week

the week before or the previous week

the next year or the following year

that year or the same year

the year before or the previous year

Exercises for Chapter 8

1. Rewrite the following affirmative statements as questions, negative statements, negative questions without contractions, negative questions with contractions, and affirmative statements followed by negative tag questions. For example:

He would like to help us.

Would he like to help us?

He would not like to help us.

Would he not like to help us?

Wouldn't he like to help us?

He would like to help us, wouldn't he?

1. She would find it easy.

2. They would be on time.

Answers

2. Complete the following sentences, using the indicated verbs in the Simple conjugation with the auxiliary would. For example:

I ... some coffee. (to like)

I would like some coffee.

... he ... us? (to believe)

Would he believe us?

They ... not ... the interruption. (to mind)

They would not mind the interruption.

... you not ...to stay at home? (to prefer)

Would you not prefer to stay at home?

1. We ... our best. (to try)

2. ... you not ... your glasses? (to need)

3. I ... everything carefully. (to plan)

4. ... they ... us? (to remember)

5. ... he not ... willing to help them? (to be)

6. ... she not ... a good job? (to do)

7. We ... not ... much luggage. (to bring)

8. ... they ... their decision? (to reconsider)

9. You ... a great deal. (to learn)

10. ... he not ... the tickets ahead of time? (to purchase)

Answers

3. Complete the following polite requests and suggestions, using the indicated verbs in the Simple conjugation with the auxiliary would. For example:

... you ... some help? (to like)

Would you like some help?

... you please ... me the way to the post office? (to tell)

Would you please tell me the way to the post office?

1. ... you ... for some coffee? (to care)

2. ... you not ... to visit the library? (to prefer)

3. I think it ... wise to let them know. (to be)

4. ... you please ... here? (to wait)

5. I ... not ... that excursion. (to recommend)

6. ... you ... the door open? (to hold)

Answers

4. Rewrite the following affirmative statements as questions, negative statements, negative questions without contractions, negative questions with contractions, and affirmative statements followed by negative tag questions. For example:

She would be arriving by bus.

Would she be arriving by bus?

She would not be arriving by bus.

Would she not be arriving by bus?

Wouldn't she be arriving by bus?

She would be arriving by bus, wouldn't she?

1. You would be coming with us.

2. He would be setting an example.

Answers

5. Complete the following sentences, using the indicated verbs in the Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would. For example:

I ... for good weather. (to wish)

I would be wishing for good weather.

... you ... them? (to visit)

Would you be visiting them?

He ... not ... to come. (to expect)

He would not be expecting to come.

... they not ... their car? (to drive)

Would they not be driving their car?

1. I ... not ... overtime. (to work)

2. ... she not ... to stay? (to intend)

3. He ... for us to call. (to wait)

4. ... they ... warm clothes? (to wear)

5. You ... twenty dollars on books. (to spend)

6. ... we ... early? (to arrive)

7. I not ... the guests? (to receive)

8. They ... not ... him for a long time. (to see)

9. ... he not ... what to do? (to wonder)

10. She ... not ... her bicycle. (to ride)

Answers

6. Rewrite the following affirmative statements as questions, negative statements, negative questions without contractions, negative questions with contractions, and affirmative statements followed by negative tag questions. For example:

It would have been a disaster.

Would it have been a disaster?

It would not have been a disaster.

Would it not have been a disaster?

Wouldn't it have been a disaster?

It would have been a disaster, wouldn't it?

1. We would have told you.

2. They would have won.

Answers

7. Complete the following sentences, using the indicated verbs in the Perfect conjugation with the auxiliary would. For example:

They ... this interesting. (to find)

They would have found this interesting.

... she ... without us? (to come)

Would she have come without us?

He ... not ... the map. (to lose)

He would not have lost the map.

... we not ... him the news? (to tell)

Would we not have told him the news?

1. I ... everything. (to arrange)

2. She ... not ... to come. (to forget)

3. ... they not ... what to do? (to know)

4. ... he ... this route? (to choose)

5. We ... them make a contribution. (to let)

6. ... you not ... it was missing? (to notice)

7. He ... not ... it to your old address. (to send)

8. ... you ... it? (to mention)

9. I ... able to find you. (to be)

10. ... they not ... us? (to join)

Answers

8. Rewrite the following sentences so that they refer to the past, by changing the verbs from the Simple conjugation to the Perfect conjugation. For example:

I would like to come.

I would have liked to come.

Would he appreciate it?

Would he have appreciated it?

They would not mind.

They would not have minded.

Would she not remember us?

Would she not have remembered us?

1. They would mail us their address.

2. Would you recognize him?

3. He would not order pizza.

4. Would I not need your help?

5. She would prefer to play the violin.

6. Would they not provide clear instructions?

7. It would not be a good idea.

8. Would you feel left out?

Answers

9. Rewrite the following sentences so that they refer to the present, by changing the verbs from the Perfect conjugation to the Simple conjugation. For example:

It would have been preferable.

It would be preferable.

Would we have succeeded?

Would we succeed?

They would not have understood.

They would not understand.

Would you not have preferred to go?

Would you not prefer to go?

1. Would she have drunk the lemonade?

2. You would not have wanted to be late.

3. We would have begun at once.

4. I would not have stayed up all night.

5. Would he not have eaten the ice cream?

6. Would they have made the dessert?

7. She would have known what to do.

8. Would you not have recommended it?

Answers

10. Rewrite the following affirmative statements as questions, negative statements, negative questions without contractions, negative questions with contractions, and affirmative statements followed by negative tag questions. For example:

I would have been playing in the orchestra.

Would I have been playing in the orchestra?

I would not have been playing in the orchestra.

Would I not have been playing in the orchestra?

Wouldn't I have been playing in the orchestra?

I would have been playing in the orchestra, wouldn't I?

1. He would have been listening to the radio.

2. She would have been watering the lawn.

Answers

11. Complete the following sentences, using the indicated verbs in the Perfect Continuous conjugation with the auxiliary would. For example:

He ... to see us. (to hope)

He would have been hoping to see us.

... you ... to come? (to plan)

Would you have been planning to come?

We ... not ... rubber boots. (to wear)

We would not have been wearing rubber boots.

... she not ... this? (to expect)

Would she not have been expecting this?

1. I ... to catch the bus. (to hurry)

2. ... you ... with us? (to stay)

3. He ... not ... by train. (to travel)

4. ... we not ... you here? (to meet)

5. They ... to Halifax. (to come)

6. ... we ... a report? (to make)

7. ... she not ... the parcels? (to open)

8. We ... not ... to the radio. (to listen)

9. You ... for a long time. (to wait)

10. ... they ... the operation? (to run)

Answers

12. Put each of the following sentences into the past, by changing the verb from the Continuous conjugation to the Perfect Continuous conjugation. For example:

I would be enjoying it.

I would have been enjoying it.

Would she be preparing for the trip?

Would she have been preparing for the trip?

We would not be entertaining such suspicions.

We would not have been entertaining such suspicions.

Would he not be organizing the evidence?

Would he not have been organizing the evidence?

1. I would be investigating the report.

2. Would he be following the shoreline?

3. You would not be listening to rumors.

4. It would be growing colder.

5. They would not be exceeding the speed limit.

6. Would she not be weeding the garden?

7. Would we be receiving the messages?

8. They would be reporting to us.

Answers

13. For each of the following sentences, change the verb in the main clause from the Simple Present to the Simple Past; and change the verb in the subordinate clause from the Simple Future to the future in the past. If necessary, alter the adverb or adverb phrase referring to time. For example:

He thinks it will snow tomorrow.

He thought it would snow the next day.

We believe she will succeed.

We believed she would succeed.

I think she will come next week.

I thought she would come the next week.

1. I promise I will help you.

2. She says the letter will arrive tomorrow.

3. The boys are certain that their plane will fly.

4. We expect the weather will improve.

5. He maintains that he will win next year.

6. We feel that the plan will not work.

7. You know I will return next week.

8. They tell us that the harvest will be good.

9. He hopes the circus will come tomorrow.

10. I am sure they will be welcome.

11. We think the fruit will be ripe next month.

12. They say they will follow us.

Answers

Answers to the exercises for Chapter 8

Answers to Exercise 1:

1. Would she find it easy? She would not find it easy. Would she not find it easy? Wouldn't she find it easy? She would find it easy, wouldn't she?

2. Would they be on time? They would not be on time. Would they not be on time? Wouldn't they be on time? They would be on time, wouldn't they?

Answers to Exercise 2:

1. would try 2. Would, need 3. would plan 4. Would, remember 5. Would, be 6. Would, do 7. would, bring 8. Would, reconsider 9. would learn 10. Would, purchase

Answers to Exercise 3:

1. Would, care 2. Would, prefer 3. would be 4. Would, wait 5. would, recommend 6. Would, hold

Answers to Exercise 4:

1. Would you be coming with us? You would not be coming with us. Would you not be coming with us? Wouldn't you be coming with us? You would be coming with us, wouldn't you?

2. Would he be setting an example? He would not be setting an example. Would he not be setting an example? Wouldn't he be setting an example? He would be setting an example, wouldn't he?

Answers to Exercise 5:

1. would, be working 2. Would, be intending 3. would be waiting 4. Would, be wearing 5. would be spending 6. Would, be arriving 7. Would, be receiving 8. would, be seeing 9. Would, be wondering 10. would, be riding

Answers to Exercise 6:

1. Would we have told you? We would not have told you. Would we not have told you? Wouldn't we have told you? We would have told you, wouldn't we?

2. Would they have won? They would not have won. Would they not have won? Wouldn't they have won? They would have won, wouldn't they?

Answers to Exercise 7:

1. would have arranged 2. would, have forgotten 3. Would, have known 4. Would, have chosen 5. would have let 6. Would, have noticed 7. would, have sent 8. Would, have mentioned 9. would have been 10. Would, have joined

Answers to Exercise 8:

1. They would have mailed us their address. 2. Would you have recognized him? 3. He would not have ordered pizza. 4. Would I not have needed your help? 5. She would have preferred to play the violin. 6. Would they not have provided clear instructions? 7. It would not have been a good idea. 8. Would you have felt left out?

Answers to Exercise 9:

1. Would she drink the lemonade? 2. You would not want to be late. 3. We would begin at once. 4. I would not stay up all night. 5. Would he not eat the ice cream? 6. Would they make the dessert? 7. She would know what to do. 8. Would you not recommend it?

Answers to Exercise 10:

1. Would he have been listening to the radio? He would not have been listening to the radio. Would he not have been listening to the radio? Wouldn't he have been listening to the radio? He would have been listening to the radio, wouldn't he?

2. Would she have been watering the lawn? She would not have been watering the lawn. Would she not have been watering the lawn? Wouldn't she have been watering the lawn? She would have been watering the lawn, wouldn't she?

Answers to Exercise 11:

1. would have been hurrying 2. Would, have been staying 3. would, have been traveling 4. Would, have been meeting 5. would have been coming 6. Would, have been making 7. Would, have been opening 8. would, have been listening 9. would have been waiting 10. Would, have been running

Answers to Exercise 12:

1. I would have been investigating the report. 2. Would he have been following the shoreline? 3. You would not have been listening to rumors. 4. It would have been growing colder. 5. They would not have been exceeding the speed limit. 6. Would she not have been weeding the garden? 7. Would we have been receiving the messages? 8. They would have been reporting to us.

Answers to Exercise 13:

1. I promised I would help you. 2. She said the letter would arrive the next day. 3. The boys were certain that their plane would fly. 4. We expected the weather would improve. 5. He maintained that he would win the next year. 6. We felt that the plan would not work. 7. You knew I would return the next week. 8. They told us that the harvest would be good. 9. He hoped the circus would come the next day. 10. I was sure they would be welcome. 11. We thought the fruit would be ripe the next month. 12. They said they would follow us.