Would

Would + base verb, the same for every subject. Short form 'd (I'd, she'd, they'd), negative wouldn't. In questions, would goes before the subject.

💡'd can be would or had — look at the next word: I'd go (base verb → would), I'd gone (V3 → had), I'd better (had better). Pronounce the /d/ clearly: without it, “I'd like” (= I want) sounds like “I like”, which means something different.

1. Imagined situations — things we think about that are not real (or not real yet)

• It would be great to live near the beach, but rent there is too high.

• I'd buy that jacket, but I don't have enough money.

  but I'm not buying it

• Should I text him first? — I wouldn't. Let him text you.

  advice: if I were you

• If I had more time, I would learn the piano.

To imagine something in the past (that didn't happen), use would have + V3 — more in the lesson “Third conditional”.

• You would have loved the concert last night.

  but you weren't there

2. Polite wishes and requests — would like / would love / would prefer / would rather, and questions with Would you…? (see also the lessons “Would like” for polite wishes and “Requests, offers and permission”)

• I'd like a glass of water, please.

• I'd love to come, but I'm working that day.

• Would you open the window, please?

3. Past habits — actions that happened again and again (like used to), common when telling stories or remembering

• When we were kids, my grandpa would take us fishing every Sunday.

• Every time it rained, the street would flood.

4. The future seen from the past — would is the past form of will, often after said, promised, thought, knew, hoped…

• Minh said he'd call me after work.

• I knew you would understand.

• We hoped it wouldn't rain, but it did.

5. Wouldn't = refused to (in the past) — a person said no, or a machine didn't work

• I asked him to slow down, but he wouldn't listen.

• My motorbike wouldn't start this morning.

Will is for something real that is going to happen. Would is for something imagined — often because something stops it from happening.

• I'll lend you my car. I don't need it this week.

  real: I will lend it

• I'd lend you my car, but my brother has it this week.

  imagined: I can't lend it

Would for past habits needs a clear past setting (When I was little…, Every summer…), often after a sentence with used to or the past simple. On its own, “I would swim in the river” sounds like an imagined situation (I would swim if…).

• ✗If I won the lottery, I will buy a house.

  ✓If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.

  Imagined situation (if + past) → would.

• ✗If I would know the answer, I would tell you.

  ✓If I knew the answer, I would tell you.

  The if-part takes the past; would goes in the result.

• ✗She said she will help me, but she never came.

  ✓She said she would help me, but she never came.

  A promise made in the past (said) → would.

• ✗When I was young, I would have long hair.

  ✓When I was young, I used to have long hair.

  Would is not used for states → used to.

• ✗I would like go home now.

  ✓I would like to go home now.

  Would like + to-verb (but would rather + verb, no to).

• ✗Would you like some tea? — Yes, I'd.

  ✓Yes, I would.

  No short form in a positive short answer.