2. 2
Modal Verbs: They are auxiliaries verbs which have different meanings or connotations. They are also called Defective Verbs
because they can’t be conjugated into different tenses. We need synonyms to do that.
WOULD, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
1- Past Intentions or Expectations:
They said they would meet us at 10.30 at the station.
She said she wouldn't be coming to the library any more.
Arnold knew he would be tired the next day.
2- Imagined Situations: Conditionals 2nd Case.
a) Used when talking about a possible situation that you imagine or want to happen:
What would you do if you won a million pounds?
I'd be amazed if I got the job.
I wish they'd come and visit us.
If only he would listen to me.
b) Used when talking about something that did not happen, or a situation that cannot exist: Conditionals 2nd, 3rd & 4th
Everything would be very different if your father were still alive.
I would have phoned you, but there wasn't time.
Alex would never have found out if you hadn't told him.
What would have happened if I hadn't been here?
3- Past habits : Used to say that something happened often or regularly in the past:
When we worked in the same office, we would often have coffee together.
On summer evenings they would sit out in the garden.
3. 3
4- Requesting : Spoken. Used to ask someone politely to do something:
Would you shut the window, please?
Would you mind waiting outside?
Would someone please tell me what is going on?
5- Offering/inviting: Spoken. Used to offer something to someone or invite them somewhere politely:
Would you like a coffee?
We're going to the theatre this evening. Would you be interested in coming?
6- What somebody wants. Spoken. Used to say that someone wants something or wants to do something:
would like/dislike/love/hate/prefer
Yes, please, I'd love a coffee.
My parents would like to meet you.
Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn't dare.
I'd hate (=I do not want) to disappoint you.
would rather/sooner (=used to say what someone prefers)
I'd rather stay in this evening, if that's all right with you.
I’d rather not go to Mary’s party
I’d rather you helped me with these difficult exercises.
7- past purpose : Used after 'so that‘, ‘in order that’ to show that someone was trying to make something happen or prevent
something:
We packed all the books in wooden boxes so that they wouldn't get damaged.
8- Would not
a) used to say that someone refused to do something:
He wouldn't give us any money.
4. 4
b) Used to say that something did not happen, even though someone was trying to make it happen:
The door wouldn't open, no matter how hard she pushed.
9- Advice. Spoken. Used when giving or asking for advice:
I'd try to get there early if you can.
I would talk to the doctor if I were you.
What would you do if you were in my position?
10- I would think/imagine/say. Spoken. Used to give your opinion about something when you are not very sure about it:
I would think you'd be happier in a different school.
'Will it cost a lot?' 'I would imagine so.'
11- Typical behavior. Spoken. Used to say that an action is typical or expected - usually used to show disapproval:
You would go and spoil it, wouldn't you!
She insists that she did nothing wrong, but then she would say that, wouldn't she?
12- Would that ... Literary used to express a strong wish or desire [= if only]:
Would that we had seen her before she died.
5. 5
WILL, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
1- Future: Used to make future tenses:
A meeting will be held next Tuesday at 3 p.m.
What time will she arrive?
I hope they won't be late.
Maybe by then you will have changed your mind.
2- Willing to do something: Used to show that someone is willing or ready to do something:
Dr Weir will see you now.
The baby won't eat anything.
3- Requesting: Spoken. Used to ask someone to do something:
Will you phone me later?
Shut the door, will you?
4- what generally happens: Used to say what always happens in a particular situation or what is generally true:
Oil will float on water.
Accidents will happen.
5- Possibility. Used like 'can' to show what is possible:
This car will hold five people comfortably.
6- Belief. Used to say that you think something is true:
That will be Tim coming home now.
As you will have noticed, there are some gaps in the data.
6. 6
7- Giving orders. Spoken. Used to give an order or to state a rule:
Will you be quiet!
You will do as I say.
Every employee will carry an identity card at all times.
8- Offering/inviting. Spoken. Used to offer something to someone or to invite them to do something:
Will you have some more tea?
Won't you have a seat?
9- Annoying habit. Spoken. Used to describe someone's habits, especially when you think they are annoying:
Trish will keep asking damn silly questions.
Tom will always talk evil about me, you know!.
7. Modal Verbs: They are auxiliaries verbs which have different meanings or connotations. They are also called Defective Verbs
because they can’t be conjugated into different tenses. We need synonyms to do that.
WILL/WOULD : We can use Will for the present and Would for the past to talk about characteristic behaviour or habits:
Every day Dan will come home from work and turn on the TV.
At school Danielle would always sit quiet and pay attention.
And about things which are or were always true:
Cold weather will kill certain plants.
During the war, people would eat all kinds of things that we don’t eat now.
We don´t use will or would in this way to talk about a particular occasion:
Each time I gave him a problem, he would solve it.
Last night I gave him a problem and he solved it.
However we can use will not (won’t) or would not (wouldn’t) in either case:
Tom wouldn´t walk the 5 miles to his place of work. (Characteristic and bevaviour)
Diana wouldn’t say what was wrong when I asked her.
In speech, we can stress will or would to criticize people’s characteristic behaviour or habits. It often suggests that criticisms
have been made before but ignored:
My sister won´t just do the washing up when I ask her.
I was happy when Sam left. He would talk about people behind their backs.
We can also criticize a person directly or express disapproval of something they have done or do regularly using will:
Sam : “I feel sick”. His friend: “Well, if you will eat so much, I’m not surprised”. (Indicating disapproval)
We can use will to draw conclusions or state assumptions about things that are the case now:
Jack will be at home by now. Let’s go and see him. You will know the truth (I believe you already do) 7
8. When we talk about repeated events in the past that don’t happen now, we can use either would or used to + infinitive.
However we can use would only if the time reference is clear:
We used to play in the garden. (No time reference)
We used to play/would play in the garden when we were kids.
We can use used to but not would when we talk about past states that have changed:
This Factory used to employee a lot of people.
Didn´t you use to smoke at university?
We don´t use either used to or would when we say exactly how many times in total something happened, how long something
took, or that a single event happened at a given past time:
We visited France 4 times during the 1980s.
She went to Jamaica last month.
To talk about an unreal past situation-that is, an imaginary situation or a situation that might have happened in the past, but
didn’t- we use would have + past participle:
I would have studied more, but I didn’t have time yesterday.
My parents wouldn´t have bought him a new car, even if my brother (had) insisted.
However when we want to indicate that we think a past situation actually happened, we prefer will + have + past participle:
As you will have noticed, he´s got new glasses.
Most people won’t have seen last night´s lunar eclipse
Bibliography: Advanced Grammar in use by Martin Hewings. Cambridge University Press.
8
9. 9
Practising:
Ex1: If posible, complete these sentences with will (or won’t) or would (or wouldn´t) followed by one of these verbs. If it’s not
posible to use will or would, use a verb in the Past Simple.
Come Decide Eat Help Invite Keep Remember
1- Amy Works really hard. Every afternoon she………………..from school at 4.15 and do an hour of piano practice.
2- Richard phoned yesterday and………………………..me out for dinner.
3- When Dominic was Young, he………………………any green vegetables.
4- The creaking noises in the old house………………………me awake until I became accustomed to them.
5- I´m sure that many people…………………..seeing Sarah Thomas on TV in the 1980s.
6- Whenever I had a problem with my maths homework, Sam ……………..me.
7- After standing on the bathroom scales, I…………………………………that I needed to lose some weight.
EX2: If necessary, correct these sentences using would or used to. If neither would or used to is correct, use a Past Simple verb
form.
1- I would enjoy studying French when I was at school.
2- Orwell would spend winters in Spain and summers in England.
3- We would live in a bungalow on the south coast, and then we moved to a flat in London.
4- You used to teach at Halston University, didn´t you?
5- On saturdays and Sundays the ferry used to take tourists across to the island.
6- The committee would meet four times last week, but still no decision has been reached.
10. 10
Ex3: Complete these sentences with will have or would have and the past participle of one of these verbs:
Buy Hear Hurt Notice Prefer Say Record
1- “I wanted to watch The Simpsons last night, but I missed it”. “I’m certain Derek…………………………….it. We can go ver to his
place to see it”
2- Don’t accept lifts from strangers-as my mother ……………………………
3- I don’t think the dog…………………………..anyone, but I was still glad when the owner took it away.
4- I’m sure by now you……………………………about yesterday’s robbery at the supermarket.
5- My parents weren’t very affectionate towards me. I always thought they……………………………..a daughter.
6- Sampras rivals……………………………..the difficulties he had with his shoulder in the tournament last week.
7- “Did you like the present Joan gave you for your birthday?” “Well, an umbrela stand isn´t something I …………………….myself,
but I suppose it might be useful.”
Ex4: Suggest completions to these responses showing that you are criticizing or expressing disapproval.
1- “I think I’m putting on weight”. “Well, if you…………………………………………………………………………………
2- “I’ve got a headache”. “well, if you……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3- “I’m really hot”. “Well, if you……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
