Lección 52 · Etapa 4: Tiempos verbales y modales
Would
IntermedioForma y uso
would para situaciones imaginarias, deseos corteses, hábitos pasados y el futuro visto desde el pasado
1.Forma
Would + verbo en forma base, igual para todos los sujetos. Forma contraída 'd (I'd, she'd, they'd), negativa wouldn't. En las preguntas, would va delante del sujeto.
| Ejemplo | |
|---|---|
| Afirmativa | I'd help you. / She would love it. |
| Negativa | He wouldn't listen. |
| Pregunta | Would you like some tea? / What would you do? |
| Respuesta corta | Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn't. |
| Pasado imaginado | would have + V3: I would have called you. |
'd puede ser would o had; fíjate en la palabra siguiente: I'd go (forma base → would), I'd gone (V3 → had), I'd better (had better). Pronuncia bien la /d/: sin ella, “I'd like” (= me gustaría, quiero) suena como “I like” (= me gusta), que significa otra cosa.
2.Cuándo se usa
1. Situaciones imaginadas: cosas en las que pensamos pero que no son reales (o todavía no)
It would be great to live near the beach, but rent there is too high.
Sería genial vivir cerca de la playa, pero allí los alquileres son demasiado caros.
I'd buy that jacket, but I don't have enough money.
Me compraría esa chaqueta, pero no tengo suficiente dinero. (pero no me la compro)
Should I text him first? — I wouldn't. Let him text you.
¿Le escribo yo primero? — Yo no lo haría. Deja que te escriba él. (consejo: yo que tú)
If I had more time, I would learn the piano.
Si tuviera más tiempo, aprendería a tocar el piano.
Para imaginar algo en el pasado (que no pasó), usa would have + V3; más en la lección “Tercer condicional”.
You would have loved the concert last night.
Te habría encantado el concierto de anoche. (pero no estuviste)
2. Deseos y peticiones educados: would like / would love / would prefer / would rather, y preguntas con Would you…? (mira también las lecciones “Would like” para un deseo cortés y “Peticiones, ofrecimientos y permiso”)
I'd like a glass of water, please.
Querría un vaso de agua, por favor.
I'd love to come, but I'm working that day.
Me encantaría ir, pero ese día trabajo.
Would you open the window, please?
¿Podría abrir la ventana, por favor?
3. Hábitos del pasado: acciones que se repetían (como used to), muy común al contar historias o recuerdos
When we were kids, my grandpa would take us fishing every Sunday.
Cuando éramos pequeños, mi abuelo nos llevaba a pescar todos los domingos.
Every time it rained, the street would flood.
Cada vez que llovía, la calle se inundaba.
4. El futuro visto desde el pasado: would es la forma pasada de will, a menudo después de said, promised, thought, knew, hoped…
Minh said he'd call me after work.
Minh dijo que me llamaría después del trabajo.
I knew you would understand.
Sabía que lo entenderías.
We hoped it wouldn't rain, but it did.
Esperábamos que no lloviera, pero llovió.
5. Wouldn't = se negó a (en pasado): una persona dijo que no, o una máquina no funcionó
I asked him to slow down, but he wouldn't listen.
Le pedí que fuera más despacio, pero no quiso hacerme caso.
My motorbike wouldn't start this morning.
Esta mañana la moto no quería arrancar.
3.¿Would o will?
Will es para algo real que va a pasar. Would es para algo imaginado, a menudo porque hay algo que impide que pase.
I'll lend you my car. I don't need it this week.
Te presto mi coche. Esta semana no lo necesito. (real: te lo voy a prestar)
I'd lend you my car, but my brother has it this week.
Te prestaría mi coche, pero esta semana lo tiene mi hermano. (imaginado: no puedo prestártelo)
4.¿Would o used to?
| Acción repetida | Estado (be, have, live, like…) | |
|---|---|---|
| used to | We used to swim in the river. | We used to live by the river. |
| would | We would swim in the river. | no es posible |
Would para hábitos del pasado necesita un contexto pasado claro (When I was little…, Every summer…), a menudo después de una frase con used to o en pasado simple. Sola, “I would swim in the river” suena a situación imaginada (I would swim if…).
5.Errores comunes
If I won the lottery, I will buy a house.If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
Situación imaginada (if + pasado) → would.
If I would know the answer, I would tell you.If I knew the answer, I would tell you.
La parte con if lleva pasado; would va en el resultado.
She said she will help me, but she never came.She said she would help me, but she never came.
Una promesa hecha en el pasado (said) → would.
When I was young, I would have long hair.When I was young, I used to have long hair.
Would no se usa para estados → used to.
I would like go home now.I would like to go home now.
Would like + to + verbo (pero would rather + verbo, sin to).
Would you like some tea? — Yes, I'd.Yes, I would.
En una respuesta corta afirmativa no se usa la forma contraída.
Ejemplos
- When we were kids, we would swim in the river every summer.
- If I had more free time, I would learn to play the guitar.
- Minh said he would call me after work, but he forgot.
- I pushed the door again and again, but it wouldn't open.
