Question on modal verb "would" use

Question

Hi. Please help me with this use of the modal verb "would." Would you say it is correct? If it is, would you say it denotes something that is repeated over time in the past? Does the phrase "one day" below carry the sense of "one time only" or "once"?

Jane Doe and John Doe have different thoughts on part leisure activities should play on their overall well-being. John Doe would come in carrying a ball one day saying he would play basketball games after work and the next day he would ...

Avangi · Accepted Answer

AnonymousJane Doe and John Doe have different thoughts on part leisure activities should play on their overall well-being. John Doe would come in carrying a ball one day saying he would play basketball games after work and the next day he would ...

I don't know the official word on this, but It's definitely correct, and it definitely describes habitual behavior in the past.

In present, it would be, "John comes in every day with a basketball." (habituation)
In simple past it would be, "John came in every day with a basketball." (habuation)

If you skip the "every day" in the past tense, it refers to a single event.
"John came in with a basketball."
It would take additional context to make it habitual.

In the present tense, without the "every day," it could be historical present (one occurrence), OR habituation.
"John comes in with a basketball."

The reason I'm agonizing over this is because when you switch to "would," it refers to habituation in the past without need of "every day."
"John would come in with a basketball."

Interestingly, "will" could indicate either habituation, or future time.
"John will bring a basketball tomorrow." (future)

"John will [sometimes] bring a basketball." (present - habituation)

This could explain your question about "would" as the past tense of "will."

As an aside, I'd say, "different thoughts on the part leisure activities should play in their etc."

AnonymousDoes the phrase "one day" below carry the sense of "one time only" or "once"?

No. Not to me. I take it as "occasionally."

Sometimes we say, "One day he'd come in with a basketball. The next/another day he'd come in with a soccer ball. It still refers to an habitual routine.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymouswould you say it denotes something that is repeated over time in the past?

Yes.

AnonymousDoes the phrase "one day" below carry the sense of "one time only" or "once"?

No. It carries the sense of "on any given day" without specifying which days the action might have happened.

See Note the section on will and would used to indicate habitual, usual, or characteristic actions.

CJ

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