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Unit 36. Would.

Unit 36; Part A

galka.jpgWe use would ('d) / wouldn't when we imagine a situation or action (= we think of that is not real):

    It would be nice to buy a new car, but we can't afford it.
    I'd love to live by the sea.
    A: Shall I tell Chris what happened?
     B: No, I wouldn't say anything.
(= I wouldn't say anything in your situation)

We use would have (done) when we imagine situations or actions in the past
(= things that didn't happen):
    They helped us a lot. I don't know what we'd have done
  
   (= we would have done) without their help.
    I didn't tell Sam what happened. He wouldn't have been pleased.

Compare would (do) and would have (done):

    I would phone Sue, but I haven't got her number.  (now)
      I would have phoned Sue, but I didn't have her number.
  (past)
    I'm not going to invite them to the party. They wouldn't come anyway.
      I didn't invite them to the party. They wouldn't have come anyway.


We often use would in sentences with if
(see Units 38-40):
    I would phone Sue if I had her number.
    I would have phoned Sue if I'd had her number.

Unit 36; Part B

galka.jpgCompare will ('ll) and would ('d):

    I'll stay a bit longer. I've got plenty of time.
      I'd stay a bit longer, but I really have to go now. 
(so I can't stay longer)
    I'll phone Sue. I've got her number.
      I'd phone Sue, but I haven't got her number. 
(so I can't phone her)

Sometimes would/wouldn't is the past of will / won't. Compare:

present 
    TOM:    I'll phone you on Sunday.
    ANN:    I promise I won't be late.
    LIZ:    Damn! The car won't start.
past
→    Tom said he'd phone me on Sunday.
→    Ann promised that she wouldn't be late.
→    Liz was annoyed because her car wouldn't start.

Unit 36; Part C

galka.jpgSomebody wouldn't do something = he / she refused to do it:

    I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen to me. 
(= he refused to listen)
    The car wouldn't start.
  (= it 'refused' to start)

You can also use would when you talk about things that happened regularly in the past:
    When we were children, we lived by the sea. In summer, if the weather was fine, we would all get up early and go for a swim. 
(= we did this regularly)
    Whenever Richard was angry, he would walk out of the room.


With this meaning, would is similar to used to
(see Unit 18):
    Whenever Richard was angry, he used to walk out of the room.



Exercises

flag.jpgWrite sentences about yourself. Imagine things you would like or wouldn't like.
Key.Example answers:
2 I wouldn't like to be a teacher.
3 I'd love to learn to fly a plane.
4 It would be nice to have a big garden.
5 I'd like to go to Mexico.


1    (a place you'd love to live)       I'd love to live by the sea.   
2    (a job you wouldn't like to do) _____________________________
3    (something you would love to do) _____________________________
4    (something that would be nice to have) _____________________________
5    (a place you'd like to go to) _____________________________
flag.jpgComplete the sentences using would + the following verbs (in the correct form):
Key.2 'd enjoy / would enjoy
3 'd have enjoyed / would have enjoyed
4 would you do   
5 'd have stopped / would have stopped
6 would have been   
7 'd be / would be   
8 'd have passed / would have passed   
9    would have

 
be       be       do       do       enjoy       enjoy       have       pass       stop
 
1    They helped us a lot. I don't know what we    would have done    without their help.
2    You should go and see the film. You ________________ it.
3    It's a pity you couldn't come to the concert yesterday. You ________________ it.
4    Shall I apply for the job or not? What ________________ you ________________ in my position?
5    I was in a hurry when I saw you. Otherwise I ________________ to talk.
6    We took a taxi home last night but got stuck in the traffic. It ________________ quicker to walk.
7    Why don't you go and see Clare? She ________________ very pleased to see you.
8    Why didn't you do the exam? I'm sure you ________________ it.
9    In an ideal world, everybody ________________ enough to eat.}
flag.jpgEach sentence on the right follows a sentence on the left. Which follows which?
Key.2    e   
3    b   
4    f   
5    a   
6    d
1    I'd like to go to Australia one day.
2    I wouldn't like to live on a busy road.
3    I'm sorry the trip was cancelled.
4    I'm looking forward to going out tonight.
5    I'm glad we didn't go out in the rain.
6    I'm not looking forward to the trip.
a  It wouldn't have been very nice.
b It would have been fun.
с  It would be nice.   
d  It won't be much fun.
e  It wouldn't be very nice.
f   It will be fun.
  1c  
        
        

        
        
        
flag.jpgWrite sentences using promised + would/wouldn't.
Key.2    He promised he'd phone. / ... he would phone.
3    You promised you wouldn't tell her.
4    They promised they'd wait (for us). / ... they would wait.


1    I wonder why Laura is late.  She promised she wouldn't be late.  
2    I wonder why Steve hasn't phoned.  He promised ______________________________
3    Why did you tell Jane what I said?  You ______________________________
4    I'm surprised they didn't wait for us. They ______________________________
flag.jpgComplete the sentences. Use wouldn't + a suitable verb.
Key.2    wouldn't tell
3    wouldn't speak
4    wouldn't let


1    I tried to warn him, but he    wouldn't listen    to me.
2    I asked Amanda what had happened, but she ________________ me.
3    Paul was very angry about what I'd said and ________________ to me for two weeks.
4    Martina insisted on carrying all her luggage. She ________________ me help her.
flag.jpgThese sentences are about things that often happened in the past. Complete the sentences using would + the following:  
Key.2    would shake
3    would always help
4    would share
5    would always forget
 
forget        help        shake        share      walk
 

1    Whenever Richard was angry, he    would walk    out of the room.
2    We used to live next to a railway line. Every time a train went past, the house _________________.
3    George was a very kind man. He _________________ always _________________ you if you had a problem.
4    Brenda was always very generous. She didn't have much, but she _________________ what she had with everyone else.
5    You could never rely on Joe. It didn't matter how many times youreminded him to do something, he ____________ always____________.


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