Would - Simple Present

Would
Would is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use would mainly to:
* talk about the past
* talk about the future in the past
* express the conditional mood
We also use would for other functions, such as:
* Expressing desire, polite requests and questions, opinion or hope, wish and regret...

Structure of Would
Subject + would + main verb
The main verb isalways the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
| Subject | Auxiliary verb | Main verb | |
+ | She | Would
‘d | Like | Tea. |
- | She | Would not
wouldn’t | Like | Tea. |
? | Would | She | Like | Coffee? |
Notice that:
* Would is never conjugated. It is always would or 'd (short form).
* The main verb is always the bare infinitive.
The main verb is always the bareinfinitive. We cannot say:
I would to like coffee.

Be careful! Would and had have the same short form 'd:
He'd finished. (He had finished.) 
He'd like coffee. (He would like coffee.)

Use of Would
would: Talking about the past
We often use would as a kind of past tense of will or going to:
* Even as a boy, he knew that he would succeed in life.
* I thought it would rain so I brought myumbrella.
Using would as as a kind of past tense of will or going to is common in reported speech:
* She said that she would buy some eggs. ("I will buy some eggs.")
* The candidate said that he wouldn't increase taxes. ("I won't increase taxes.")
* Why didn't you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! ("It's going to rain.")
We often use would not to talk about pastrefusals:
* He wanted a divorce but his wife would not agree.
* Yesterday morning, the car wouldn't start.
We sometimes use would (rather like used to) when talking about habitual past behavior:
* Every weekday my father would come home from work at 6pm and watch TV.
* Every summer we'd go to the seaside.
* Sometimes she'd phone me in the middle of the night.
* We would alwaysargue. We could never agree.

Would: Future in past
When talking about the past we can use would to express something that has not happened at the time we are talking about:
* In London she met the man that she would one day marry.
* He left 5 minutes late, unaware that the delay would save his life.

would: Conditionals
We often use would to express the so-called second and thirdconditionals:
* If he lost his job he would have no money.
* If I had won the lottery I would have bought a car.
Using the same conditional structure, we often use would when giving advice:
* I wouldn't eat that if I were you.
* If I were in your place I'd refuse.
* If you asked me I would say you should go.
Sometimes the condition is "understood" and there does not have to be an"if" clause:
* Someone who liked John would probably love John's father. (If someone liked John they would probably love John's father.)
* You'd never know it. (for example: If you met him you would never know that he was rich.)
* Why don't you invite Mary? I'm sure she'd come.

Although there is always a main verb, sometimes it is understood (not stated) as in:
* I'd like tostay. | I wish you would. (would stay)
* Do you think he'd come? | I'm sure he would. (would come)
* Who would help us? | John would. (would help us)

would: Desire or inclination
* I'd love to live here.
* Would you like some coffee?
* What I'd really like is some tea.

would: Polite requests and questions
* Would you open the door, please? (more polite than: Open thedoor, please.)
* Would you go with me? (more polite than: Will you go with me?)
* Would you know the answer? (more polite than: Do you know the answer?)
* What would the capital of Nigeria be? (more polite than: What is the capital of Nigeria?)

would: Opinion or hope
* I would imagine that they'll buy a new one.
* I suppose some people would call it torture.
* I would...