Use of would

Anonymous Is 'would' correct and meaningful in the sentence?I thought I 'would' get some dessert for the reception.

FIne. It's the past (used to express tentativeness) of I think I'll get some dessert for the reception.

CJ

Yes, it is a common expression. It represents a fairly firm decision that hasn't yet been performed or announced. Sometimes, it is said as a suggestion to test whether agreement is received from others.

wilpetera suggestion to test whether agreement is received from others.

Good point. I neglected to mention it.

CJ

CalifJim wilpetera suggestion to test whether agreement is received from others.Good point. I neglected to mention it.CJ

Thanks. Can this expression be used after actually getting the dessert for the reception, after the action has been performed?

You mean use, "I thought I 'would' get some dessert for the reception."
You could use the words, but not with the same meaning. You'd be saying I might do something after you know you did it.
Here's a contrived way that it could happen:
You are recounting how well the reception went, and you tell someone how you reached your decision to add the dessert. "I felt the reception needed s

wilpeterYou mean use, "I thought I 'would' get some dessert for the reception."You could use the words, but not with the same meaning. You'd be saying I might do something after you know you did it.

Thanks. Yes, this one. Thanks for your detailed explanation.

wilpeterfelt the reception needed something to take away the taste of the garl

AnonymousOr Did I know that their there will be some garlic bread and I thought that it would be a good idea to get some dessert, and I did get the dessert before going to the reception?

Oh, what a tangled web I wove! Keep in mind that this is not common usage, so it might not be useful training for you. "Would" is being used in the

AnonymousI got the idea. But just curious, does the sentence convey that I bought the dessert before going to the reception or after eating the garlic bread at the reception and feeling the need to buy some dessert, and I went to get some dessert and came back to the reception?Or Did I know that their will be some garlic bread and I thought that it would be a good idea to

wilpeter By putting it in the past tense, "I thought I would" is a way of saying out loud what I was thinking back then.

Thank you. So the main idea with its use is that, as you indicated, is what I was thinking in the past that you have shown with your examples. This is basically the take home lesson, right?

wilpeter If it were in the

AnonymousWouldn't it be 'I think I will', if it were in the present tense?Isn't will the present tense of would or does would here mean 'may or might'?

No, 'I think I might' is (a) before buying and before deciding if to buy. 'I think I will' is after the approval but before buying.
Making a mountain out of a mole hill, here's (for any latecomers) the sto