Modals - Expressions - "would"

Modals
Expressions with "Would"	Framed \| Unframed

Read & Contrast

"Would" can be used when stating a preference, a request, an old habit, an excuse

Preference vs. Request

PREFERENCE - WOULD RATHER	REQUEST - WOULD YOU MIND
I would rather smoke indoors than outdoors.	Would you mind smoking outside?
I would rather you smoke outdoors than indoors.	Would you mind not smoking in here?

Past Action vs. Habit

PAST TENSE	FORMER HABIT - WOULD (USE TO)
I spent hours smoking.	I would spend hours smoking.
I hid my smoking habit.	I would hide my smoking habit.

Action Did Not Happen

MAKING AN EXCUSE - WOULD HAVE	PAST PREFERENCE - WOULD RATHER HAVE
I would have stopped smoking, but it was too difficult.	I would rather have found an easy way out, but I didn't.
I would have called, but my phone wasn't working.	I would rather have been a non-smoker, but I wasn't.

Practice 1

What is the meaning of "would" in each sentence?

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
1.	Would you mind opening the door for me?
2.	I would open the door, but my hands are full.
3.	Jack would call his parents every Sunday.
4.	Would you rather have beer or wine?

Practice 2

Select the option that best completes the sentence.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
5.	have short or long hair?
6.	medium length hair.
7.	When I was young, I had long hair. My mother
8.	Once, I my own hair.
9.	not putting any hair spray on me.
10.	I would have washed my hair this morning,
11.	Would you mind my hair now.
12.	I would rather have washed it earlier, .
13.	blow-dry or air-dry your hair?
14.	Air-dry, I it dry naturally usually.
15.	When I was young, I blow-dry it, but now I don't.

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Julie Sevastopoulos - ESL Department - College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA 94402 USA