Modal Verbs (modal auxiliaries) *Part 3*

Would

Would is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use would mainly to:

• talk about the past
• talk about the future in the past
• express the conditional mood

We also use would for other functions, such as:

• expressing desire, polite requests and questions, opinion or hope, wish and regret...

Structure of Would

subject + would + main verb

The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
+	She	would	like	tea.
		'd
-	She	would not	like	whisky.
		wouldn't
?	Would	she	like	coffee?

Notice that:

• Would is never conjugated. It is always would or 'd (short form).
• The main verb is always the bare infinitive.

The main verb is always the bare infinitive. We cannot say:
I would to like coffee.

Be careful! Would and had have the same short form 'd:
He'd finished. (He had finished.)
He'd like coffee. (He would like coffee.)

Use of Would

would: Talking about the past

We often use would as a kind of past tense of will or going to:

• Even as a boy, he knew that he would succeed in life.
• I thought it would rain so I brought my umbrella.

Using would as as a kind of past tense of will or going to is common in reported speech:

• She said that she would buy some eggs. ("I will buy some eggs.")
• The candidate said that he wouldn't increase taxes. ("I won't increase taxes.")
• Why didn't you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! ("It's going to rain.")

We often use would not to talk about past refusals:

• He wanted a divorce but his wife would not agree.
• Yesterday morning, the car wouldn't start.

We sometimes use would (rather like used to) when talking about habitual past behaviour:

• Every weekday my father would come home from work at 6pm and watch TV.
• Every summer we'd go to the seaside.
• Sometimes she'd phone me in the middle of the night.
• We would always argue. We could never agree.

would: Future in past

When talking about the past we can use would to express something that has not happened at the time we are talking about:

• In London she met the man that she would one day marry.
• He left 5 minutes late, unaware that the delay would save his life.

would: Conditionals

We often use would to express the so-called second and third conditionals:

• If he lost his job he would have no money.
• If I had won the lottery I would have bought a car.

Using the same conditional structure, we often use would when giving advice:

• I wouldn't eat that if I were you.
• If I were in your place I'd refuse.
• If you asked me I would say you should go.

Sometimes the condition is "understood" and there does not have to be an "if" clause:

• Someone who liked John would probably love John's father. (If someone liked John they would probably love John's father.)
• You'd never know it. (for example: If you met him you would never know that he was rich.)
• Why don't you invite Mary? I'm sure she'd come.

Although there is always a main verb, sometimes it is understood (not stated) as in:

• I'd like to stay. | I wish you would. (would stay)
• Do you think he'd come? | I'm sure he would. (would come)
• Who would help us? | John would. (would help us)

would: Desire or inclination

• I'd love to live here.
• Would you like some coffee?
• What I'd really like is some tea.

would: Polite requests and questions

• Would you open the door, please? (more polite than: Open the door, please.)
• Would you go with me? (more polite than: Will you go with me?)
• Would you know the answer? (more polite than: Do you know the answer?)
• What would the capital of Nigeria be? (more polite than: What is the capital of Nigeria?)

would: Opinion or hope

• I would imagine that they'll buy a new one.
• I suppose some people would call it torture.
• I would have to agree.
• I would expect him to come.
• Since you ask me I'd say the blue one is best.

would: Wish

• I wish you would stay. (I really want you to stay. I hope you will stay.)
• They don't like me. I'm sure they wish I'd resign.

Note that all of these uses of would express some kind of distance or remoteness:

• remoteness in time (past time)
• remoteness of possibility or probability
• remoteness between speakers (formality, politeness)

would: Presumption or expectation

• That would be Jo calling. I'll answer it.
• We saw a police helicopter overhead yesterday morning. | Really? They would have been looking for those bank robbers.

would: Uncertainty

• He would seem to be getting better. (less certain than: He seems to be getting better.)
• It would appear that I was wrong. (less certain than: It appears that I was wrong.)

would: Derogatory

• They would say that, wouldn't they?
• John said he didn't steal the money. | Well, he would, wouldn't he?

would that: Regret (poetic/rare) - with clause

This rare, poetic or literary use of would does not have the normal structure:

• Would that it were true! (If only it were true! We wish that it were true!)
• Would that his mother had lived to see him become president.

Should

Should is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use should mainly to:

• give advice or make recommendations
• talk about obligation
• talk about probability and expectation
• express the conditional mood
• replace a subjunctive structure

Structure of Should

subject + should + main verb

The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
+	He	should	go.
-	He	should not	go.
		shouldn't
?	Should	he	go?

Notice that:

• Should is invariable. There is only one form of should.
• The main verb is always the bare infinitive.

The main verb is always the bare infinitive. We cannot say:
He should to go.

There is no short form for should. The negative should not can be shortened to shouldn't.

Use of Should

should: Giving advice, opinions

We often use should when offering advice or opinions (similar to ought to):

• You should see the new James Bond movie. It's great!
• You should try to lose weight.
• John should get a haircut.
• He shouldn't smoke. And he should stop drinking too.
• What should I wear?
• They should make that illegal.
• There should be a law against that.
• People should worry more about global warming.

People often say "They should..." Usually, the "they" is anonymous and means the government, or the company, or somebody else - but not us!

should: Obligation, duty, correctness

Another use of should (also similar to ought to) is to indicate a kind of obligation, duty or correctness, often when criticizing another person:

• You should be wearing your seat belt. (obligation)
• I should be at work now. (duty)
• You shouldn't have said that to her. (correctness)
• He should have been more careful.
• Should you be driving so fast?

should: Probability, expectation

We use should to indicate that we think something is probable (we expect it to happen):

• Are you ready? The train should be here soon.
• $10 is enough. It shouldn't cost more than that.
• Let's call Mary. She should have finished work by now.

should: Conditionals

We sometimes use should (instead of would) for the first person singular (I) and first person plural (we) of some conditionals:

• If I lost my job I should have no money.
  (If he lost his job he would have no money.)
• We should be grateful if you could send us your latest catalogue.

This is not a very important distinction. (More about the use of shall/will and should/would.)

should: (If I were you I should...)

We often use the conditional structure "If I were you I should..." to give advice.

• If I were you, I should complain to the manager.
• If I were you I shouldn't worry about it.
• I shouldn't say anything if I were you.

Note that we can omit "If I were you..." and just say:

• I should complain to the manager.
• I shouldn't worry about it.
• I shouldn't say anything.

In these cases, the phrase "I should" really means something like "you should".

should: Pseudo subjunctive

We often use a special verb form called the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody wants to happen, hopes will happen or imagines happening, for example:

• The president insists that the prime minister attend the meeting.

However, this is much more common in American English. British English speakers would probably convey the same idea using should:

• The president insists that the prime minister should attend the meeting.

Here are some more examples:

Subjunctive typically American English	Using should typically British English
The president is insisting that pollution be reduced.	The president is insisting that pollution should be reduced.
The manager recommended that Mary join the company.	The manager recommended that Mary should join the company.
It is essential that we decide today.	It is essential that we should decide today.
It was necessary that everyone arrive on time.	It was necessary that everyone should arrive on time.

should: Why should..? | How should..?

If we don't understand (or agree with) something, we may use "Why should..?":

• Why should it be illegal to commit suicide? It's your life.

"Why should..?" and "How should..?" can also indicate anger or irritation:

• "Help me with this." | "Why should I?"
• "Where are my keys?" | "How should I know?"

Modal Verbs (modal auxiliaries) *Part 1*

Modal Verbs (modal auxiliaries) *Part 2*

Modal Verbs (modal auxiliaries) *part 4*

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