Use of would

Question

Could anyone help me understand the use of "would" in the following sentences ?
1. "I wouldn't say that the performance was bad."
2. "That would be Mike on the phone".
The first sentence is not a conditional sentence. Then why do we use "would" instead of "will".
Similarly the use of "would be" in the second sentence doesn't seem grammatical ?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

#1 is conditional in the sense of being a polite form: 'I wouldn't say (if you asked my opinion)...'.

#2 is perfectly grammatical. Again, it is a polite form of 'will', this time in the sense of predictability: That would be Mike (if you value my opinion)...'

CalifJim · Answer

Debpriya De1. "I wouldn't say that the performance was bad."
2. "That would be Mike on the phone".

1. This use of "would" distances the speaker from his opinion; it relates to the speaker's (un)willingness to state a certain opinion.

"I [wouldn't /don't want to] say that the performance was bad" leaves unsaid "but I [wouldn't / don't want to] say that the performance was good, either". This is, in fact, a typical use -- the words "I woudn't say (that)" followed by a negative opinion.

I wouldn't say that she was lazy.
I wouldn't say that he was exactly dishonest.
I wouldn't say they were uncooperative.

This way of giving an opinion is sometimes called "damning with faint praise".
____________

2. The usual word here is "will" -- the "will" of probability.

[That will / That'll] be Mike on the phone. = That is probably (going to be) Mike on the phone. (said just as the phone rings, for example)

The version with "would" might be considered just a less used variant of the "will" of probability, but it is somewhat anomalous to my ear.

That would be Mike on the phone. = That is probably Mike on the phone. (possibly said while observing someone else talking on the phone)

In the past I'd be more inclined to use "would have" of probability.

That would have been Mike on the phone. = That was probably Mike on the phone. (said after the phone call is completed, where you observed the call in progress, but did not actually take the call)

-- And then they took me to see a tall, gray-haired man, who asked a lot more questions.
-- Oh, yes. That would have been the senior manager of finance, Mr. Saunders.

CJ

English 1b3 · Answer

That would be Mike on the phone= I think you'll find that that will be Mike on the phone

I almost feel that 'would' here expresses less doubt than 'will,' almost a cocky, assured comment

CalifJim · Answer

English 1b3I almost feel that 'would' here expresses less doubt than 'will,' almost a cocky, assured comment

Yes, there's another way to take that "would". I call it "fatuous would". It states the obvious as if it were somehow uncertain -- for effect. I think the following falls into this category as well.

-- What is 2 plus 2?
-- Hmmm. Ah. Errr. (pretends to be thinking hard) That would be 4!

The "feel" of "fatuous would" ranges from silly to sarcastic. It seems either to play the fool or to play the listener for a fool.

CJ

Mister Micawber · Answer

I call it "fatuous would".

That's a keeper, Jim-- thanks!

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