7 ways to use Would – Modal verb Would

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We use Would you like.? to offer something to somebody

• A: Would you like some coffee? B: No, thank you.
• A: Would you like a chocolate? B: Yes, please.
• A: What would you like, tea or coffee? B: Tea, please.
• Would you like an apple? B: No, thanks
• Would you like a cup of tea? B: Yes, please.
• Would you like a piece of cheese? B: No, thanks
• Would you like something to eat? B: No, thanks. I’m not hungry.
• Would you like to have dinner with us next Saturday? B: Yes, thanks.
• What would you do if you won a lot of money? B: I’ll buy a new car.

We use Would you like.? to invite somebody.

• A: Would you like to go for a walk? B: Yes, no problem.
• A: Would you like to come to dinner? B: Yes, I’m hungry.
• A: What would you like to do this evening? B: I’ll sleep early.
• A: Would you like to stay with us? B: No thanks, I have to go.
• A: Where would you like to go tonight? B: I’ll visit my father.
• A: What would you like to drink? B: A glass of water, please.
• A: Would you like to come to a concert next week? B: No, thanks.
• A: Would you like to go out for a walk? B: Not now, perhaps later.
• A: Would you like to play tennis tomorrow? B: Yes, I would like to play.
• A: Would you like to borrow my umbrella? B: Yes, I would like to borrow it.
• A: We’re having a picnic next Friday, would you like to come? B: Yes, of course.
• A: Would you like to eat with us on Sunday? B: Yes, I would love to eat with you.
• A: Would you like to go to the cinema with me tomorrow? B: No, thanks I don’t like to watch movies.
• A: I would like to go to Turkey this summer, would you like to go with me? B: Not this summer.

We use modal verb Would to be Polite Request

I would like … is a polite way to say ‘I want’. I would like = I’d like:

We often use would to be polite, especially when we are giving a polite order:

• I would like to play tennis on Saturday. = I want to play tennis on Saturday.
• I’m thirsty, I’d like a drink. = I want to drink.
• I’d like an orange, please. = can I have an orange?
• I’m tired, I’d like to go to sleep now.
• Would you turn the music down?
• Would you close the door, please?
• Would you mind telling me the time?
• Would you translate this page for me?
• Would you pay attention when I’m speaking?
• I’d like some information about hotels, please.
• I’m feeling tired. I’d like to stay at home this evening.
• I can’t understand you, would you speak more slowly?
• I’d like to leave, I’ve got football training at seven.
• I’d like a sandwich, please.’ ‘Sure. What kind of sandwich?’
• Tom would like to watch the match at seven this evening.
• Would you sign your name on the dotted line, please?
• Sally, would you phone for a taxi, please? I’m very late.
• Mary would like to be a doctor, she wants to go to medical school.

Would you like … ? and Do you like … ?

Would you like is a polite way of saying ‘Do you want?’.

• A: Would you like to go to the cinema tonight?
  = do you want to go tonight?
  B: Yes, I’d love to.
• A: Do you like going to the cinema? (In general)
  B: Yes, I go to the cinema a lot.
• What would you like to do next weekend?
  = What do you like to do at weekends?
• What time would you like to have dinner this evening?
• Would you like some candy?
  = Do you like candy?

We also use would to talk about imaginary or unreal situation & conditionals

• If I were rich, I would travel a lot.
• If I won the lottery, I would buy a fast car.
• If I were a doctor I would work in a hospital.
• If I had finished my work, I would have left.
• If I were you, I wouldn’t drink alcohol or wine.
• You would lose weight if you took more exercise.
• I would help you move house, but I have a bad back.
• If I won a lot of money, I would give some of it to charity.
• He would be here, but he has too much work at the moment.
• What would you do if you were attacked by a lion? I’d probably try to run fast.
• What would you do if you could read people’s thoughts? I would help you if I could.

We use modal verb would as the past of will

• I would read a lot in my college days.
• Tom would help you if you asked him.
• Sami said that he would study harder.
• He would run well when he was a young.
• We had to terrible night. The baby would not go to sleep.
• I thought we would be late, so we would have to take the car.
• My father would not lend me the car, so we had to take the train.

We use modal verb would with rather

• I would rather have milk than tea.
• I would rather walk than stay home.
• I would rather travel by taxi than by bus.
• I would rather learn something than watch tv.

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