Word: would Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Old English wolde, past tense of willan, predecessor of will. The loss of /l/ in this word is probably due to weak stress, as in should and could (though in the latter, the /l/ was due to the analogy of the former two). Pronunciation: /wəd/, /əd/, /(w)ʊ(l)d/, /wʊd/, /wɵd/ 1. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: On my first day at University, I met the woman who would become my wife. Example: Hi! I thought I'd come over and introduce myself. My name’s Chema. 2. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: When we were younger, we would cycle out to the beach most summer Sundays. Example: No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait. 3. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: I asked her to stay in with me, but she would go out. Example: Then he took to breeding silk-worms, which he would bring in two or three times a day, in little paper boxes, to show the old lady[…]. 4. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: archaic, auxiliary Example: And thenne at laste a-nother sayd that he wolde have eyren. Then the good wyf sayd that she understod hym wel. Example: The Greeks, especially those who would be thought adepts in mystic theology, ran after fantastic allegories […]. 5. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: archaic, auxiliary Example: At which time he told me, he would to London that week, and so to Oxford. Example: He sat as one astonish'd, a good-while, looking at me, without speaking a Word, till I came quite up to him, kneel'd on one Knee to him, and almost whether he would or no, kiss'd his Hand[…]. 6. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary, obsolete 7. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: If I won the lottery, I would give half the money to charity. Example: I'd never do anything that went against my conscience. 8. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: I would love to come and visit. Example: Look at that yummy cake! I would eat that all up! 9. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: I would ask you all to sit down. Example: I would imagine that they have already left. 10. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I would write and complain. 11. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: She looked as if she would be sick. Example: He's very security-conscious, so he would have remembered to lock the door. 12. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: Sorry, officer, I wouldn't know anything about the crime, since I was nowhere near the scene. Example: The free access model, the media magnate said last week, was "malfunctioning". Well he would, wouldn't he? 13. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: auxiliary Example: Would you pass the salt, please? Example: Just reach me down that file, would you. 14. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: archaic, auxiliary Example: PARIS My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow. Example: KING HENRY Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz? WESTMORELAND God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone, Without more help, could fight this royal battle! 15. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive. Labels: archaic, auxiliary Example: What dost thou professe? What would’st thou with vs?