Would

Question

Hello,everybody,everybody is using 'would' today.'I would want you to tell me what happened.','we would need more examples to understand.'does the meaning change if we do not use 'would'?

Regards · Accepted Answer

Hi,

AnonymousEverybody is using 'would' today.

You seem to think that "everybody" uses would just for the heck of it, but it's simply not true.

AnonymousDoes the meaning change if we do not use 'would'?

I suppose you are asking about the two sentences you have made up, so here is what I think:

I would want you to tell me what happened. -- Not reasonably natural. You'll be more likely to hear someone

say: "I would like you to tell me what happened." Or "I want you to tell me what happened."

We would need more examples to understand (it). -- Here, if you omit would, the meaning will change

because as it stands it appears to be a conditional statement.

Consider this:

If you asked us a question in broken English, we would need more examples to understand it.

(But you didn't ask us a question in broken English.)

Now, compare:

Your question seems unclear. We need more examples to understand it. (A simple statement)

I hope it helps.

Regards

Anonymous · Answer

RegardsHi,AnonymousEverybody is using 'would' today.You seem to think that "everybody" uses would just for the heck of it, but it's simply not true.AnonymousDoes the meaning change if we do not use 'would'?I suppose you are asking about the two sentences you have made up, so here is what I think:I would want you to tell me what happened. -- Not reasonably natural. You'll be more likely to hear someonesay: "I would like you to tell me what happened." Or "I want you to tell me what happened."We would need more examples to understand (it). -- Here, if you omit would, the meaning will changebecause as it stands it appears to be a conditional statement.Consider this:If you asked us a question in broken English, we would need more examples to understand it.(But you didn't ask us a question in broken English.)Now, compare:Your question seems unclear. We need more examples to understand it. (A simple statement)I hope it helps.Regards

How can I understand would in the example to be mentioned ?Is ' would' in the example below conditional?What difference does it make if used without 'would'?Does the meaning change?

'This page is unpolished and very incomplete. It will probably be a very long while before this is complete, so I would suggest reading the Examples page.'

BarbaraPA · Answer

There's no real difference, except that "would" is a bit more polite. I'm not telling you what to do, but that would be my suggestion, IF you wanted to know my opinion.

Read the examples page. -- Kind of an order.
I suggest reading the examples page. -- Fine, but perhaps a bit authoritarian.
I would suggest reading the examples page -- If you wanted an opinion from me.

It's so automatic that I write it without thinking about it.

Anonymous · Answer

Grammar GeekThere's no real difference, except that "would" is a bit more polite. I'm not telling you what to do, but that would be my suggestion, IF you wanted to know my opinion.Read the examples page. -- Kind of an order.I suggest reading the examples page. -- Fine, but perhaps a bit authoritarian.I would suggest reading the examples page -- If you wanted an opinion from me.It's so automatic that I write it without thinking about it.

I'd like to thank you very much,Grammar Geek.

Then,'would' is conditional but implicitly?

BarbaraPA · Answer

I think that's a good way to say it - the "implied" conditional is "if you asked me" or something like that.

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