I will or I would?

Question

Hi,Can I say "Yes, I would" to mean "Yes, please. I want to have some" when someone asks me, "Would you like some wine?" Or should I say, "I will"?My point here is, I believe "would" in positive sentences means kind of like "won't." Let's say, someone says "Oh, yeah, I would come" when he is invited to a party but that "would" implies, "eventually I won't/can't because I've got tons of work to do that evening" right?Thank you,M

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Here are some examples of usage:

A: Would you like some wine?
B: Yes, I would. (The meaning is "Yes, please." You cannot say "Yes, I will." in this situation.)

A: Will you have some wine?
B: Yes, I will. (The meaning is "Yes, please." You cannot say "Yes, I would." in this situation.)

A: Would you come to the party if you were invited?
B: Oh, yeah, I would come. ("Would" is a modal here. It's inclusion in a sentence adds an element of doubt, probability, or uncertainty. It is not certain that B will attend the party. Furthermore, A's question, because it is also in a modal form, implies that A is expecting a less-than-certain answer, in modal form, from B. It would be incorrect for B to answer "Oh, yeah, I will come.")

A: Will you come to the party if I invite you?
B: Oh, yeah, I will. (There is no uncertainty here. B is saying that he is sure to attend the party. And A's question is direct and certain, and it anticipates a direct and certain answer from B. It would be incorrect for B to answer "Oh, yeah, I would come.")

RandomGuy · Answer

mitsuwao23Can I say "Yes, I would" to mean "Yes, please. I want to have some" when someone asks me, "Would you like some wine?"

Yes.

mitsuwao23Or should I say, "I will"?

No.

Would you like some wine?
Yes, I would (like some wine).

mitsuwao23"Oh, yeah, I would come"

This is an implied conditional: I would come (if I weren’t so busy). Would like is just a politer version of want. It isn’t conditional.

Mitsuo23 · Answer

Thank you, people!

M

CalifJim · Answer

mitsuwao23Would you like some wine?

Yes, I would is the best answer. Put would in the answer because would is in the question.

You may, however, make it look like you are trying to decide, and then use I believe I will.

Hmmm. Let me think. Hmmm. Ah, yes, I believe I will have some wine.

Even so, I recommend you stick to Yes, I would.

mitsuwao23My point here is, I believe "would" in positive sentences means kind of like "won't."

No. That's not correct.

mitsuwao23Let's say, someone says "Oh, yeah, I would come" when he is invited to a party but that "would" implies, "eventually I won't/can't because I've got tons of work to do that evening" right?

No. I don't know where you got that idea, but it seems you are somewhat mistaken about this. If you are invited, you don't answer Oh yeah, I would come unless you are going to add the condition(s ) under which you would come and/or a reason why you are not able to come. So you need an if-clause and/or a but-clause. I'm sorry. I would come if I could, but I've already made other plans.

True, in the end, as a matter of fact, you won't go to the party, but that's not really what the words are saying. The words are explaining why you can't go to the party.

CJ

I will or I would?

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