Talk:would

Where would links to the forms of would go? e.g. wouldst 161.142.24.130 12:29, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

In the "related terms" section. - TheDaveRoss 12:30, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

Swedish translations

I added Swedish translations for every meaning except the last one.

1. In Swedish there's a separate word for holes in the ice, vak. Could it be considered a tautology to keep the information that the lake is frozen?
2. For the last meaning, to which I didn't add a translation, there are several expressions that are used to express a polite request, among the most used are skola kunna, kunna vara snäll och, skola kunna vara snäll och. Should I add everyone of them to the translation section, and how would I incorporate them with the examples? HannesP 22:56, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

Contexts that allow volitional past-time “would” with singulary dynamic situations

Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, page 197, reads

Volitional past-time "would" is normally excluded from affirmative contexts with singulary dynamic situations, so that we couldn’t replace wouldn’t by would in I had no money on me but he wouldn’t lend me any where we'd use instead unmodalised lent me some (or was willing to lend me some, etc.)

The contexts allowing would are a little broader than the ordinary non-affirmative ones: for example, just permits would but not any, so we can have The text would just fit on one page, but not ∗I just had any money.

What contexts other than the ordinary ordinary non-affirmative ones, of the type of just, allows it? --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:22, 19 October 2019 (UTC)

I'd ask Huddleston and/or Pullum. DCDuring (talk) 21:25, 11 November 2019 (UTC)

A co-worker is having a girl. Thought we'd congratulate him.

What meaning is used in "A co-worker is having a girl. Thought we'd congratulate him" --Backinstadiums (talk) 13:12, 10 November 2019 (UTC)

"Used to give a conditional or potential "softening" to the present; might, might wish." DCDuring (talk) 14:06, 10 November 2019 (UTC)

I actually think it's 1.4, the anterior future. It's the past-tense version of saying, "We think we'll congratulate him." Ƿidsiþ 13:39, 11 November 2019 (UTC)

Could be, but "might" is substitutable into Backinstadium's example. Whether we have perfect wording for all definitions of this term (and similar ones like modals, auxiliaries, copulas, subordinating conjunctions, determiners, prepositions, adverbs other than manner adverbs) would seem unlikely, despite your laudable efforts. I can find fault with definitions of such words in almost any dictionary. DCDuring (talk) 21:23, 11 November 2019 (UTC)

would you look at me?

what meaning is used in would you look at me? in the context it's uttered? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMS3y5KfyyI --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:59, 18 November 2019 (UTC)

It is a request, like "would you pass the butter please?". The speaker wants to be looked at. Saying "look at me!" would have the same meaning. Equinox ◑ 19:08, 18 November 2019 (UTC)

IDIOM: I wouldn't know

IDIOM: used to say that one has not experienced something
"That restaurant has the best desserts!" B: "I wouldn't know. I've never been there."
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/I%20wouldn%27t%20know

What meaning of would(n't) is used in that idiom? --Backinstadiums (talk) 12:07, 6 February 2020 (UTC)

I'm sure you asked that before on a discussion page. It's something like "given my life and status and experiences, I would not be in a position to know". Equinox ◑ 12:08, 6 February 2020 (UTC)

Sense 1.6 seems closest. Equinox ◑ 12:09, 6 February 2020 (UTC)

I think it's 2.4. Ƿidsiþ 06:40, 7 February 2020 (UTC)

OED 42 (In the apodosis of a conditional sentence (expressed or implied), in the 2nd or 3rd pers., forming the auxiliary of the simple ‘conditional mood’, expressing merely a possibility or contingency in the supposed case (For the distinction between should and would see note s.v. shall v. B . 19b.) cf. 14 (In 2nd and 3rd pers., as auxiliary expressing mere futurity, forming (with pres. inf.) the future, and (with pf. inf.) the future pf. tense: corresponding to shall in the 1st pers. (see note s.v. shall v. B. 8); b. As auxiliary of future substituted for the imper. in mild injunctions or requests). For the distinction between should and would see note s.v. shall v. B . 19b.)

42d. I wouldn't know: see know v. 11g (** In various phrases, arranged in the chronological order of their first recorded use in English as far as this is determinable: g.III.11.g to know little (or nothing) and care less: to be unconcerned about; to be studiously ignorant of. ) --Backinstadiums (talk) 08:36, 18 May 2021 (UTC)

In the context of our definitions, it’s surely sense 1.4, ‘I cannot be naturally expected to know’Overlordnat1 (talk) 00:24, 17 July 2021 (UTC)

woul'n't

I think in google books the form woul'n't is attested enough --Backinstadiums (talk) 21:59, 19 March 2020 (UTC)

(chiefly archaic) Might wish ( + verb in past subjunctive)

What does the definition "might wish" exactly mean? --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:58, 28 March 2020 (UTC)

Indicating a wish, would takes a clause in the past subjunctive: I'd rather that he go now

That statement from the usage note is contradictory, isn't it? --Backinstadiums (talk) 10:00, 19 July 2020 (UTC)

Used after a statement of desire, request, or advice ; 2. to express presumption or expectation.

What meanings would apply to I wish you'd stay and That'd d be Steve at the door? --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:32, 28 July 2020 (UTC)

Should: (auxiliary, formal, literary) A variant of would

should reads (auxiliary, formal, literary) A variant of would with first person subjects; however, I don't know of what meaning(s) of would exactly it's a variant --Backinstadiums (talk) 11:38, 15 November 2020 (UTC)

"would have married" oddity in Narnia

What is going on here?

• 1952, C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

  "We thought the Duke would have been pleased if the King's Majesty would have married his daughter, but nothing came of that—"

I would expect "pleased if ... had married his daughter". What sense of would is this? Equinox ◑ 19:38, 27 June 2022 (UTC)

He would, wouldn't he

Does that sense have to be past? How about discussion of future events, but with the same connotation?

1. Could naturally have been expected to, or be expected to (given the tendencies of someone's character etc.). [from 18th c.]

   He denied it, but then he would, wouldn't he?

   I think she'll deny it — I mean that's just her character: she would, wouldn't she?

   • 2009, "Is the era of free news over?", The Observer, 10 May:

Or is this overlapping another sense? —DIV (1.145.32.243 10:39, 10 November 2022 (UTC))

The past would is available in contingent (conditional) clauses but often without the sense of volition except in indirect speech JMGN (talk) 10:27, 19 October 2023 (UTC)