Would | Unit 36 | PrepMyEnglish

Unit 36 · Grammar Lesson

Unité 36 · Leçon de Grammaire

Would
Imagined Situations, Past of Will, Refusals & Past Habits — Complete Guide Would
Situations Imaginées, Passé de Will, Refus & Habitudes Passées — Guide Complet

Master would / wouldn't for imagined situations, would have done for imagined past events, would as the past of will, refusals with wouldn't, and regular past habits

Maîtrisez would / wouldn't pour les situations imaginées, would have done pour le passé imaginé, would comme passé de will, les refus avec wouldn't, et les habitudes passées

B1 – B2 4 Rules · 6 Exercises · 200-Q Quiz · PDF 4 Règles · 6 Exercices · Quiz 200 Q · PDF 🇬🇧 EN / 🇫🇷 FR

Would ('d) / wouldn't has several important uses in English. The most common is for imagined situations — things that are not real or not happening. We also use it as the past form of will in reported speech and to describe regular past habits. This unit covers all four key uses clearly with examples.

Would ('d) / wouldn't a plusieurs usages importants en anglais. Le plus courant est pour les situations imaginées — des choses qui ne sont pas réelles. On l'utilise aussi comme forme passée de will au discours indirect et pour décrire des habitudes passées régulières. Cette unité couvre les quatre usages principaux avec des exemples clairs.

Would ('d) / Wouldn't — Imagined Situations & Would Have (Done)

Would ('d) / Wouldn't — Situations Imaginées & Would Have (Done)

We use would ('d) / wouldn't when we imagine a situation or action — when we think of something that is not real (now or in general). We often use it in sentences with if (conditionals).

On utilise would ('d) / wouldn't quand on imagine une situation ou une action — quand on pense à quelque chose qui n'est pas réel (maintenant ou en général). On l'utilise souvent dans des phrases avec if (conditionnels).

Subject + would ('d) + base verb (imagined present/general)
It would be nice to buy a new car, but we can't afford it.
I'd love to live by the sea.
I would call Lisa if I had her number.

We use would have (done) when we imagine something that didn't happen in the past.

On utilise would have (done) quand on imagine quelque chose qui ne s'est pas passé dans le passé.

Subject + would have + past participle (imagined past — didn't happen)
It's a shame you didn't see the film. You would have liked it.
I don't know what we'd have done without their help.
I would have called Lisa if I'd had her number.

Would (do) — imagined present

Would (do) — présent imaginé

not real now → imagined situation

pas réel maintenant → situation imaginée

I would call Lisa, but I don't have her number. (now)

I'm not going to invite them. They wouldn't come anyway.

I'd stay a little longer, but I really have to go now.

A: Shall I tell Chris? B: No, I wouldn't say anything. (in your place)

Would have (done) — imagined past

Would have (done) — passé imaginé

didn't happen → imagined past event

ne s'est pas passé → événement passé imaginé

I would have called Lisa, but I didn't have her number. (past)

I didn't invite them. They wouldn't have come anyway.

It's a shame you didn't see the film. You would have liked it.

I didn't tell Sam. He wouldn't have been pleased.

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Compare will and would:Comparez will et would : I'll stay a little longer — I've got plenty of time. (real) vs I'd stay a little longer, but I really have to go now. (imagined — but I can't). I'll stay a little longer — I've got plenty of time. (réel) vs I'd stay a little longer, but I really have to go now. (imaginé — mais je ne peux pas).

Would as the Past of Will — Reported Speech & Refusals

Would comme passé de will — Discours indirect & Refus

Sometimes would / wouldn't is the past of will / won't. This happens especially in reported speech. We also use wouldn't when someone (or something) refused to do something.

Parfois would / wouldn't est le passé de will / won't. Cela se produit surtout au discours indirect. On utilise aussi wouldn't quand quelqu'un (ou quelque chose) a refusé de faire quelque chose.

Tom: "I'll call you on Sunday." → Tom said he'd call me on Sunday.

→ will → would in reported speech

→ will → would au discours indirect

Amy: "I promise I won't be late." → Amy promised that she wouldn't be late.

→ won't → wouldn't in reported speech

→ won't → wouldn't au discours indirect

Lisa: "The car won't start!" → Lisa was annoyed because her car wouldn't start.

→ The car 'refused' to start (wouldn't = refusal/failure)

→ La voiture a 'refusé' de démarrer

I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen to me.

→ he refused to listen

→ il a refusé d'écouter

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Wouldn't = refused to:Wouldn't = a refusé de : I asked her but she wouldn't tell me. / The door wouldn't open. I asked her but she wouldn't tell me. / The door wouldn't open.

Would for Regular Past Habits (= Used To)

Would pour les habitudes passées régulières (= Used To)

You can use would to talk about things that happened regularly in the past. With this meaning, would is similar to used to. Note: this use of would requires a past time context.

On peut utiliser would pour parler de choses qui se passaient régulièrement dans le passé. Avec ce sens, would est similaire à used to. Note : cet usage nécessite un contexte temporel passé.

In summer, if the weather was fine, we would all get up early and go for a swim.

→ we did this regularly every summer

→ on faisait ça régulièrement chaque été

Whenever Richard was angry, he would walk out of the room.

→ this happened regularly whenever he was angry

→ cela arrivait régulièrement chaque fois qu'il était en colère

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Would vs Used to:Would vs Used to : Both express regular past habits. However, only used to (not would) can describe a past state: ✓ We used to live by the sea. ✗ We would live by the sea. Les deux expriment des habitudes passées. Cependant, seul used to peut décrire un état passé : ✓ We used to live by the sea. ✗ We would live by the sea.

EX 1

Exercise 1 — Imagined situations: write sentences with would + verb

Exercice 1 — Situations imaginées : écrivez des phrases avec would + verbe

Write a sentence using I'd love to …, I wouldn't like to …, It would be nice to … etc.

Écrivez une phrase en utilisant I'd love to …, I wouldn't like to …, It would be nice to … etc.

(a place you'd love to live) → (un endroit où vous adoreriez vivre) →

(a job you wouldn't like to do) → (un métier que vous n'aimeriez pas faire) →

(something you would love to do) → (quelque chose que vous adoreriez faire) →

(something that would be nice to have) → (quelque chose qu'il serait agréable d'avoir) →

Suggested answers:Réponses suggérées : 1. I'd love to live by the sea. · 2. I wouldn't like to be a surgeon. · 3. I'd love to travel the world. · 4. It would be nice to have more free time.

EX 2

Exercise 2 — Complete with would + the correct verb form

Exercice 2 — Complétez avec would + la bonne forme verbale

Use: be · be · do · do · enjoy · enjoy · have · stop

Utilisez : be · be · do · do · enjoy · enjoy · have · stop

Word box: be · be · do · do · enjoy · enjoy · have · stop Boîte de mots : be · be · do · do · enjoy · enjoy · have · stop

They helped us a lot. I don't know what we without their help.Ils nous ont beaucoup aidés. Je ne sais pas ce qu'on sans leur aide.

You should go and see the film. I think you it.Tu devrais aller voir ce film. Je pense que tu it.

It's a pity you couldn't come to the party last night. You it.C'est dommage que tu n'aies pas pu venir. Tu l'.

Shall I apply for the job or not? What in my position?Est-ce que je devrais postuler ou non ? Que à ma place ?

I was in a hurry when I saw you. Otherwise I to talk.J'étais pressé(e) quand je t'ai vu. Sinon je pour parler.

We took a taxi home last night, but got stuck in traffic. It quicker to walk.Nous avons pris un taxi hier soir, mais étions bloqués. Il plus rapide de marcher.

Why don't you go and see Clare? She very pleased to see you.Pourquoi ne pas aller voir Clare ? Elle très contente de te voir.

In an ideal world, everybody enough to eat.Dans un monde idéal, tout le monde suffisamment à manger.

Answers:Réponses : 1. would have done · 2. would enjoy · 3. would have enjoyed · 4. would you do · 5. would have stopped · 6. would have been · 7. would be · 8. would have

EX 3

Exercise 3 — Match each sentence with its follow-up (will or would)

Exercice 3 — Associez chaque phrase à sa suite (will ou would)

Write the correct letter (a–f) for each sentence.

Écrivez la lettre correcte (a–f) pour chaque phrase.

a. It wouldn't have been very nice. · b. It would have been fun. · c. It would be nice. · d. It won't be much fun. · e. It wouldn't be very nice. · f. It will be fun. a. Ce n'aurait pas été très agréable. · b. Ça aurait été amusant. · c. Ce serait bien. · d. Ce ne sera pas très amusant. · e. Ce ne serait pas très agréable. · f. Ce sera amusant.

I'd like to go to Australia one day. → J'aimerais aller en Australie un jour. →

I wouldn't like to live on a busy road. → Je n'aimerais pas vivre sur une route très fréquentée. →

I'm sorry your trip was cancelled. → Je suis désolé(e) que ton voyage ait été annulé. →

I'm looking forward to going out tonight. → J'ai hâte de sortir ce soir. →

I'm glad we didn't go out in the rain. → Je suis content(e) qu'on ne soit pas sorti sous la pluie. →

I'm not looking forward to the trip. → Je n'ai pas hâte du voyage. →

Answers:Réponses : 1-c · 2-e · 3-b · 4-f · 5-a · 6-d

EX 4

Exercise 4 — Reported speech: write sentences using promised + would/wouldn't

Exercice 4 — Discours indirect : écrivez des phrases avec promised + would/wouldn't

Write a full reported speech sentence using promised + would/wouldn't.

Écrivez une phrase au discours indirect complète avec promised + would/wouldn't.

I wonder why Laura is late. (She promised / not be late) → Je me demande pourquoi Laura est en retard. →

I wonder why Steve hasn't called me. (He promised / call) → Je me demande pourquoi Steve n'a pas appelé. →

Why did you tell Amy what I said? (You promised / not tell her) → Pourquoi as-tu dit à Amy ce que j'ai dit ? →

I'm surprised they didn't wait for us. (They promised / wait) → Je suis surpris(e) qu'ils n'aient pas attendu. →

Answers:Réponses : 1. She promised she wouldn't be late. · 2. He promised he would call (me). · 3. You promised you wouldn't tell her. · 4. They promised they would wait.

EX 5

Exercise 5 — Refusals: complete with wouldn't + a suitable verb

Exercice 5 — Refus : complétez avec wouldn't + un verbe approprié

Think of a verb that expresses the refusal or failure described.

Trouvez un verbe qui exprime le refus ou l'échec décrit.

I tried to warn him, but he to me.J'ai essayé de le prévenir, mais il à moi.

I asked Amanda what had happened, but she me.J'ai demandé à Amanda ce qui s'était passé, mais elle me.

Paul was angry about what I'd said and he to me for two weeks.Paul était en colère et il à moi pendant deux semaines.

Martina insisted on carrying all her luggage. She me help her.Martina a insisté pour porter ses bagages. Elle me l'aider.

Answers:Réponses : 1. wouldn't listen · 2. wouldn't tell · 3. wouldn't speak / wouldn't talk · 4. wouldn't let

🎯

Exercise 6 — Past habits: complete using would + a verb from the box

Exercice 6 — Habitudes passées : complétez avec would + un verbe de la liste

forget · shake · share · smile · stay · walk

Whenever Richard was angry, he out of the room.Chaque fois que Richard était en colère, il out of the room.

We used to live next to a railway line. Every time a train went past, the house .On habitait près d'une voie ferrée. Chaque fois qu'un train passait, la maison .

Katherine was always very generous. She didn't have much, but she what she had with everyone else.Katherine était toujours très généreuse. Elle ce qu'elle avait avec tout le monde.

You could never rely on Joe. No matter how many times you reminded him, he always .On ne pouvait jamais compter sur Joe. Peu importe combien de fois tu lui rappelais, il toujours.

When we were children, we used to go to the beach a lot. We there all day playing in the sand.Quand on était enfants, on allait souvent à la plage. On là toute la journée à jouer dans le sable.

Lucy was always friendly. Whenever I saw her, she always and say hello.Lucy était toujours sympathique. Chaque fois que je la voyais, elle toujours et disait bonjour.

Answers:Réponses : 1. would walk · 2. would shake · 3. would share · 4. would forget · 5. would stay · 6. would smile

Frequently Asked Questions — Would

Questions fréquentes — Would

What is the difference between "would do" and "would have done"?Quelle est la différence entre "would do" et "would have done" ?

Would do imagines a present situation that is not real: I would call Lisa, but I don't have her number. Would have done imagines a past event that didn't happen: I would have called Lisa, but I didn't have her number.

Would do imagine une situation présente qui n'est pas réelle. Would have done imagine un événement passé qui ne s'est pas produit.

When is "wouldn't" used to mean "refused to"?Quand "wouldn't" signifie-t-il "a refusé de" ?

When somebody (or something) wouldn't do something, we mean they refused to do it or it simply didn't work: I asked him to move, but he wouldn't. / The car wouldn't start.

Quand quelqu'un (ou quelque chose) wouldn't faire quelque chose, cela signifie qu'il a refusé ou que ça n'a pas fonctionné : The car wouldn't start.

Can "would" and "used to" always be swapped for past habits?Peut-on toujours échanger "would" et "used to" pour les habitudes passées ?

Not always. Both can describe repeated past actions. However, used to (not would) is required for past states: ✓ I used to live near the beach. ✗ I would live near the beach.

Pas toujours. Used to (pas would) est requis pour les états passés : ✓ I used to live near the beach. ✗ I would live near the beach.

How does "would" work in reported speech?Comment fonctionne "would" au discours indirect ?

Will → would and won't → wouldn't in reported speech. "I'll call you," said Tom. → Tom said he'd call me.

Will → would et won't → wouldn't au discours indirect. "I'll call you," dit Tom. → Tom said he'd call me.

What is the difference between "I'll stay longer" and "I'd stay longer"?Quelle est la différence entre "I'll stay longer" et "I'd stay longer" ?

I'll stay longer — I've got plenty of time. = Real. I'd stay longer, but I really have to go now. = Imagined / not possible. Will = real. Would = imagined.

I'll stay longer = réel. I'd stay longer, but I have to go. = imaginé / pas possible. Will = réel. Would = imaginé.

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WouldImagined Situations, Past of Will, Refusals & Past Habits — Complete Guide WouldSituations Imaginées, Passé de Will, Refus & Habitudes Passées — Guide Complet

Would ('d) / Wouldn't — Imagined Situations & Would Have (Done)

Would ('d) / Wouldn't — Situations Imaginées & Would Have (Done)

Would (do) — imagined present

Would (do) — présent imaginé

Would have (done) — imagined past

Would have (done) — passé imaginé

Would as the Past of Will — Reported Speech & Refusals

Would comme passé de will — Discours indirect & Refus

Would for Regular Past Habits (= Used To)

Would pour les habitudes passées régulières (= Used To)

Would — Exercises with AnswersWould — Exercices avec Corrigé

Exercise 1 — Imagined situations: write sentences with would + verb

Exercice 1 — Situations imaginées : écrivez des phrases avec would + verbe

Exercise 2 — Complete with would + the correct verb form

Exercice 2 — Complétez avec would + la bonne forme verbale

Exercise 3 — Match each sentence with its follow-up (will or would)

Exercice 3 — Associez chaque phrase à sa suite (will ou would)

Exercise 4 — Reported speech: write sentences using promised + would/wouldn't

Exercice 4 — Discours indirect : écrivez des phrases avec promised + would/wouldn't

Exercise 5 — Refusals: complete with wouldn't + a suitable verb

Exercice 5 — Refus : complétez avec wouldn't + un verbe approprié

Exercise 6 — Past habits: complete using would + a verb from the box

Exercice 6 — Habitudes passées : complétez avec would + un verbe de la liste

Frequently Asked Questions — Would

Questions fréquentes — Would

Would — Quiz

Would — Quiz

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Would Quiz

Quiz — Would

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Would
Imagined Situations, Past of Will, Refusals & Past Habits — Complete Guide Would
Situations Imaginées, Passé de Will, Refus & Habitudes Passées — Guide Complet