Modal verb Would in English: use, translation, how it differs from will. English language - grammar - verb - multifunctional verbs as modals The verb would in English is intelligible

Verb will (would – past tense)– is one of the most common verbs in the English language and is used in most cases to construct forms of the future tense.

Verb will has only two forms: will and would. Both forms are not semantic verbs, that is, they do not themselves denote any action, and therefore are not translated out of context.

Auxiliary verb WILL

As an auxiliary, verb will/would needed in two cases: to construct the future tense and conditional sentences. The verb performs a purely technical, auxiliary function of constructing a grammatical structure, without adding any special meaning or emotional connotation to the sentence.

1. Education of the future tense

Auxiliary will used to form future tense forms of all types of tense forms of the verb, the simplest example is, simple future tense. Will is placed before the semantic verb, which in the simple future tense is used in the initial form, without endings.

He will move to the capital. - He will soon move to the capital.

I will come to see you tomorrow. - I'll come see you tomorrow.

Verb would used to form the form “future in the past” ().

He said that he would move to the capital soon. – He said that he would soon move to the capital.

I said that I would come to see you. - I said I would come to see you.

2. Formation of conditional sentences

Verb will used in conditional sentences of the first type:

If I find the phone number, I will call him. – If I find a phone number, I’ll call him.

If you help me, I will don't forget it. “If you help me, I won’t forget this.”

Verb would needed to construct forms of the subjunctive mood in conditional sentences of the second and third types:

If I were you, I would think twice. - I would think twice if I were you. (second type)

If you had betrayed me, I would have not forgiven you. - If you betrayed me, I would not forgive you. (third type)

Modal verb WILL

Unlike the auxiliary, the modal verb will adds to the utterance the speaker's attitude towards the action. In other words, here we're talking about not just about the future tense, but about giving an emotional coloring to the expression.

1. Determination, confidence in taking action.

I will take what is mine. “I will take what is mine.”

I will not surrender. - I will not Give Up.

2. Confidence in the commission of an action by another person, a threat.

You will release the prisoners. – You will release the prisoners.

You will accept our offer. – You will accept our offer.

They will give us what we want. “They will give us what we want.”

3. A polite request or question, a request in interrogative form.

Will do you write your name here? – Could you write your name here?

Will do you give me a hand? – Could you help me?

Will will you marry me? - Will you marry me?

Questions can also be asked with would - they will sound softer, more polite and with less confidence.

Would you help me with my car? – Could you help me with my car?

4. B negative sentences- persistence in performing an action.

This man will not stop. “This man still won’t stop.”

The window will not open. - The window still won’t open.

5. Persistent reluctance to do something in the past

This meaning is inherent only to the past tense, which is why would is used.

I told you you not to take my car but you wouldn't listen! “I told you not to take my car, but you didn’t listen!”

Why did she have to go? I don't know, she wouldn't say. – Why did she have to leave? I don't know, she would never tell.

6. Repeated action in the past (with the verb would)

There is often a hint of nostalgia in such expressions.

That old actor would sit and watch his old movies for hours. – This old actor used to sit and watch his old films for hours.

Will and Shall

In old English textbooks you can read that, along with the verb will as auxiliary(not to be confused with modal) for the formation of future tense forms in the 1st person singular and plural used shall.

I shall go. - I will go.

We shall go. - We will go.

In modern English shall How auxiliary is practically no longer used, we can safely say I will go, We will go.

However shall used as modal verb, that is, to express the speaker’s attitude to action. Here are examples of such cases:

1. Question with the aim of receiving instructions, orders (in first-person sentences):

Shall I bring you water? - Should I get you some water?

Shall I go? - I went?

Shall I call you the manager? - Should I call you a manager?

2. Threat, promise (address to a second or third party)

This is the last warning. You shall bring me the money. - This is the last warning. You will bring me money.

I'm fired. My boss shall regret his decision. - I'm fired. My boss will regret his decision.

3. Obligation, obligation to perform an action (usually in official documents, contracts)

The contractor shall provide them with housing. – The contractor is obliged to provide them with housing.

Note: At the verb shall there is also a past tense form - should, more about usage should written as a modal verb in the article

Will or Going to?

The intention to perform an action in the future can be expressed not only with the help of will, but also using the phrase to be going to. There are many subtle nuances in the use of these two methods, depending on the situation, context, and intonation. But the most general rule is this:

• will- an expression of confidence in performing an action, something like “I WILL DO this”, “this WILL HAPPEN”.
• to be going to- a planned, anticipated action, usually in the near future, something like “I am GOING to do this.”

I will tell my girlfriend the truth tonight. – Tonight I WILL TELL my girlfriend the whole truth.

I am going to tell my girlfriend the truth tonight. “Tonight I’m going to tell my girlfriend the whole truth.”

Other uses of will and to be going to:

I've lived in the UK for almost five years now, but I still get confused by the use of the verbs "do" and "would". For example, what is the difference between the expressions " He wouldn't know" And " He doesn't know"?

• Answer

Hi Mohammed, thanks for your question.

Hi Mohammed, thanks for the question.

The main point to consider here is that "does" and "doesn"t" are all present simple forms of the verb "to do". One of the main uses of the present simple is to express a general truth, a fact, habit or routine when we"re not only thinking about now but thinking in general. In your example, you say He doesn't know- this suggests to me a simple fact or general truth about his situation, in the same way that if I say I don't own a cat or He doesn't like ice-cream this is simply a general fact or truth without any particular time attached to it.

The main thing to remember here is that “does” and “doesn”t" are forms of the simple present tense of the verb “to do.” The simple present tense is mainly used to express general truths, some familiar and routine fact, when we have I mean not only currently, but we're talking in general. In your example you say: " He doesn't know" = "He does not know". This leads me to believe that this is simply a fact, a general statement about his situation - as if I had said: " I don't own a cat" = "I do not have a cat" or " He doesn't like ice-cream" = "He doesn't like ice cream" is a simple fact/truth without any reference to a specific time.

"Would" can be used in several different ways, but to relate my answer to your specific example, He wouldn't know, we"re using it in this case to hypothesize or imagine how much - or conversely - how little he knows. Here we don"t think it"s very likely that he would know, but it"s not as definite as using the present simple form "doesn"t know" where you feel absolutely sure about the limits of his knowledge. So one of the most common uses of "would" or "wouldn"t" is to hypothesise or imagine a situation or action. If we want to express this in the past, we have to use "would" or "wouldn"t" with "have" and the past participle - in this case "wouldn"t have known" or "wouldn"t have done. " For example:

The verb " would" there are several meanings, but in your specific example "He wouldn't know" verb " would" expresses your personal hypothesis/assumption about how much - or, conversely, how little - he knows. [Therefore He wouldn't know = It's unlikely he knows = It's unlikely that he knew]. In this case, it seems to us that most likely he does not know. But this is conjectural, while" doesn't know" expresses absolute certainty that he does not know. So, one of the most common uses of the verb " would" or " wouldn't" - to express your hypothesis/assumption/idea about some situation or action. If we want to express this in the past tense, we must use "would" or "wouldn"t" with a verb in the perfect tense (that is, have + past participle time) - in this case it will turn out " wouldn't have known" or " wouldn't have done". For example:

There was no point asking him yesterday because he wouldn't have known then.

Yesterday it was useless to ask him, because yesterday he would hardly have known.

These are certainly not the only uses of "would", but I hope, at least, this answers your question about the functions of "would" as it appears in your sentence.

Two forms that we use in English speech. This is the present tense form - will, and the past tense form – would. Both the first and second forms can work as auxiliary verbs in English. Will in combination with the infinitive is needed for education, and would in the same company to create the future tense in the past () and subjunctive forms. For example:

I will visit this museum when I come back to Kiev. – I will go to this museum when I come to Kyiv again.

She told me you would invite friends to this cafe. – She said that you would invite your friends to the cafe.

I knew she would be asked at once. “I knew they would ask her right away.”

Modal verb will and modal verb would have both similar and different situations of use, so let's talk about each separately.

Modal verb WILL

Modal verb will necessary to express:

1. Desire, determination, intention, promise, agreement.
   

   She will not tell me what is wrong. “She doesn’t want to tell me what happened.” (what's wrong)

   They will help him. - They will help him. (Promise)

   I will have my own way. - I'll do it my way. (determination)

2. Order.
   

   You will tell your parents that I wish to speak to them. - Tell your parents that I want to talk to them.

   Stop chattering, will you? - Don't talk, okay?

3. Please, polite questions.
   

   Will you say it again? – Could you say it again?

   Will you close the window? – Could you please close the window?

4. Perseverance, persistence, resistance in negative sentences.
   

   The door will not open. - The door won't open.

   The pen will not write. – The pen doesn’t write at all.

Modal verb WOULD

We reread the uses of the modal verb will and note that points 1, 3 also apply to the modal verb would. This can be seen in the following examples:

He was poor and would do any work. “He was poor and agreed to any job.

Would you tell me the time, please? - Please tell me what time it is.

But the modal verb would there are also certain meanings that are unique to it. Among them we remember cases in which the modal verb would expresses:

1. A persistent reluctance to perform some action in the past (this works in negative sentences).
   

   She asked him twice to give up drinking, but he wouldn’t listen to her. “She asked him to stop drinking twice, but he didn’t want to listen to her.

2. A repeated habitual action in the past. Therefore, in this case it approaches the value known to us, which is used everywhere.
   

   He would always say hello. - He always said hello.

Modal verb will and modal verb would are the latest in a series of articles devoted to this section of English grammar. I hope you understand the material and there will be no difficulties in the process of studying it.

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It is no secret that some modal verbs, distinguished by specific meanings and forms, developed from other modals, acquiring the status of independent ones. A striking example is a pair shall –, where the second verb, originally used instead of shall in the past tense, has become a full-fledged modal word with individual characteristics. The same applies to such a grammatical structure as the modal verb would. Its use has always been typical in Past instead of will, but over time it has become a full-fledged modal with some special functions unique to it. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what basic meanings this verb has, what is its difference with will, give examples of sentences with would, and also show in what grammatical constructions this word is used.

Main characteristics of a modal verb

Would in English has the same characteristics as most other modals. It does not show an action, but reflects an attitude towards it, cannot have an ending –s after it, is always used with an infinitive, etc. However, it also has one more important feature: in language it can be used not only as a modal, but also as an auxiliary verb, which is perhaps even more common.

For situations where it acts as an auxiliary verb, the translation rule usually provides for the particle “would”. This is why we so often use this verb in situations where the action is associated with unreality and some kind of fantasy or fiction. This is what it looks like:

• I would be Grateful to you if you helped with this issue– I would be grateful if you could help me with this question
• I wish you would come on time, don’ t be late- I would like you to come on time, don’t be late

Will and would, as we know, were never “pure” modals and were almost always included in various grammatical structures (especially in the tenses of the Future category). Would is often used as a substitute for will in situations that require tense agreement. In addition, its use is very typical in such an area as the subjunctive mood, where it is also a very common auxiliary verb.

Interrogative sentences

In questions, this verb is used in accordance with the rules of modal verbs, when the modal has the right to independently form this type of sentence. So, it comes first, followed by the subjects, then the predicate, and then the rest of the structure. If the question is special, that is, it contains a special question word, modal will naturally come after it. For example:

• Would I solve this problem if were not for certain circumstances? – Would I have solved this problem if not for certain circumstances?
• What would you do if she asked you about that Friday? – What would you do if she asked you about that Friday?

Negations and short form

For negation, you do not need to use anything new - the same particle not, characteristic of any modals. In addition, with this verb the shortened form – wouldn’t – is easily formed. The transcription of both British and American English provides the same pronunciation of would in a short form with a negation: the word is pronounced [ˈwʊd(ə)nt]:

• She wouldn't ’ t participate in this game unless you explain her all the rules– She won’t take part in this game unless you explain all the rules to her.

Methods of transmitting different tenses

Grammar allows the use of a verb in different tenses and situations. So, it was already mentioned a little earlier that this form often serves to coordinate times when it is impossible to use will, for example, he said he would be able to, etc. It is also permissible to form a long tense with it, using , or a previous action through . Situations may be different: the verb found its application in the subjunctive mood, being one of the most popular auxiliary verbs:

• If I were you I would immediately leave this house –On yours place I would immediately left this house
• Would you mind if opened the window a little wider? “Would you mind if I opened the window a little wider?”

Note: for translation would you mind there is only one meaning: “do you mind? won't you mind?" Abbreviated forms are not used here.

Differences between will and would in meaning

Despite the independent status of would as a modal verb, most of its functions overlap with the meanings of will. As a rule, the main difference lies precisely in the temporal form, when it becomes necessary to shift time back one step.

• 1. So, it also has the meaning “will, desire.” The main difference is the frequent use in negative sentences (the abbreviation is also relevant here):

He was in a hurry and wouldn't ’ t tell me anything“He was in a hurry and didn’t want to tell me anything.”

• 2. Both verbs have the meaning of a polite offer or request. If we compare these functions of the two modals, we can note that with would the situation takes on an even greater degree of politeness and courtesy:

Would you be so kind to pass me the kettle? – Could you be so kind as to pass me the teapot?

• 3. Persistence on something. If with will the situation belonged to the present or future tense, then with would it will be Past, again, as a rule, due to the Sequence of Tenses:

He was at a loss, but he would try to make an excuse –He was confused, But All equals had tried apologize

Would does not have a prediction function, and this is quite obvious and logical: any forecast is made for the future and is not used with the past tense.

Special designs

In addition to the above uses, this modal is also part of several other structures. Thus, the construction would rather (synonymous with had better) is translated as “it would be better, it would be worth it” and is a condition for the bare Infinitive (without to):

I would rather go with you than stay here alone- I would rather go with you than stay here alone

A stable expression is the phrase would like, which translates as “I would like”:

I would like to visit as many places as possible –To me would I wanted visit How Can more places

All these features of the modal verb would allow us to call it unique and special in its own way. The use of this modal in speech is very popular, and in order not to confuse it with other words, it is necessary to carefully study its functions and areas of use. Only in this case will the correctness of its use be justified and logical.

The verb will (past tense form would) in English has two functions:
The first is the designation of the action which is planned in the future:

I will go there. (I'll go there).

The second - which helps to express desire, readiness, determination to take action: She will have her own way. (She'll do it her way.)

As well as a certain degree of confidence and assertiveness of the speaker:

That will be a doctor at the door. (Looks like the doctor has come).

A little history

It is curious that in ancient English there was no special . People guessed that an action was being planned using context. For Russian speakers, the consonant word “will” will help you remember the main lexical meaning of the verb. After all, in fact, one of the most popular uses of will is precisely the expression of the will to do something (or, on the contrary, to refuse an action).

A feature of modern English is that it does not have a future tense form, without additional shades: necessity, compulsion, desire, speaker or writer. This must be taken into account when using the verbs will and would.

It should be recalled that until recently, teachers of classical English grammar for the formation of the Simple future tense () required the use of verb shall. Nevertheless, the language lives and develops and today the colloquial norm is almost universally considered will for all persons and numbers. In rare cases, using shall gives the speech a more formal or mentoring tone.

Basic uses of the verb will

• To indicate intention, desire, promise:
  He will help you. He will help you.
  We will come and see you next week. We will visit you next week.
• To express a request or order:
  You will tell me all secrets! You will tell me all the secrets!
  This form of categorical order, almost a threat, is noticeably softened by the use of please:
  Will you close the door, please? Could you close the door?
• To express some degree of confidence:
  We'll see you tomorrow. We'll see you tomorrow.
  He will be about fifty. He must be about fifty years old.

Basic uses of the verb would

To express the possibility of certain actions in the past (translated using the particle “would”).

If he knew, he would be glad. If he knew, he would be glad.

It is important to remember here that the English language has a strict rule of tense agreement. Therefore, if in the main sentence they used the past tense, then in the subordinate clause, the Future in the Past is used. For this purpose we use would. The difficulty, which often gives rise to errors, is that in Russian, subordinate clause translated simply into the future tense.

I knew that you would give me a chance. I knew you would give me a chance.

In the present tense, this form is used for particularly polite, non-categorical requests.:

Would you come in? Won't you come in?
Would you close the window? Would you close the window?

To describe habitual actions in the past:

He would visit her every day. He used to visit her every day.

Used in reasoning and assumptions:

I wonder whether he would object… I wonder if he will object...

Sometimes the same verb is used to describe and convey direct speech:

She said she would leave. She said she would leave.

Contracted and negative forms of the verbs will and would

IN English speech Quite often the abbreviated (reduced) form of verbs is used. In cases where the proposal is affirmative, everything is quite simple:

I will - I'll
I'll. visit this museum
I will visit this museum.

He (she) will -he’ll (she’ll)
He'll (she will) ask me about it. He/she will ask for it

We will - We'll
We'll (we will) look after the children.
We'll look after the children.

The short form would is even easier to use. It is formed according to one rule, reducing to the short “‘d”:
We were confident that he ‘d (he would) find a solution. We were confident that he would fulfill his promise.

Some difficulties may arise when using the shortened negative form of the verb will. In this case, you need to remember that you cannot use the general principle of abbreviation for this verb! The forms willn’t and willnot do not exist! The correct ones are won’t from will (will not);

We won't invite them. We won't invite them.

Verb would forms a short negative form by general rule:wouldn't

We knew that they wouldn’t go to Moscow. We knew that they would not go to Moscow.

Peculiarities of using the verbs will and would

It is curious that in colloquial speech won’t is pronounced exactly the same as the verb want (want, desire). Their meaning can be recognized using context, as well as strictly grammatical requirements. The verb want has eigenvalue. It is not modal, therefore it must be separated from another verb by the particle to.

For example, let's take two sentences:

• We won't invite them. We won't invite them.
• We want to invite them; already translated differently: We want to invite them.

There are several stable expressions (idioms) with the verb would that are popular in colloquial speech: would rather; would better; would sooner.

• I would rather go on the next train. I'll probably take the next train.
• You would better look after him. You better keep an eye on him.
• She said she would sooner stay at home. She would rather stay at home.

You can memorize with these verbs, which will make your speech more natural and help you remember the verbs better:

• Hawks will not pick hawks' eyes.- literally translated, we are talking about hawks. Russian equivalent: A raven will not peck out a crow's eye.
• Many words will not fill a bushel.- Words won't help matters.