Would--3 quick questions

Question

So that we don't have to go through the whole topic, I'll firstly write down what I do know:

Would is used as the past tense of will--to talk about the future in the past.

Would is used to talk about repetetive/habitual, past actions.

Would is used in the second and third conditionals.

1) How is it functioning below (I've asked this elsewhere and received no consistent answer)?

Having found me to be an alcoholic, she did not like me and so spurned my offer. But I would attempt to warm up to her.

2) And what tense is 'would' here, as I was told this wasn't simple past?

3) Does would get its tense from other verbs in the sentence perhaps?

I'll be very grateful if this is cleared up.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

English 1b31) How is it functioning below (I've asked this elsewhere and received no consistent answer)?

Having found me to be an alcoholic, she did not like me and so spurned my offer. But I would attempt to warm up to her.

It functions as the past of will. Past of: She's spurning my offer, but I will attempt to warm up to her. As will is similar to is going to, would is similar to was going to. ..., but I [would / was going to] attempt to warm up to her.

English 1b32) And what tense is 'would' here, as I was told this wasn't simple past?

Strictly speaking it is not a tense at all; it's a modal construction. Any modal verb followed by a base form can be called a modal tense. (can go, should see, would do, may find) A modal verb followed by have and a past participle can be called a modal perfect tense. (might have known, would have seen, could have been, will have taken)

English 1b33) Does would get its tense from other verbs in the sentence perhaps?

No. The modal tense constructions are considered finite verbs. Finite verbs all have their own "tense"; they don't take their tense from other elements in the sentence. Nevertheless, the choice of tense of one verb in a sentence may be influenced by the choice of tense of another verb in the same sentence. This mutual influence usually goes by the name "sequence of tenses".

CJ

English 1b3 · Answer

Thanks very much, CJ. [Y]

So is the following untrue then?? (I was told this when discussing the tense of would):

"It is not the simple past tense.

With "would", it is necessary to have an already established past time-frame. The past time-frame is often established by a previous occurrence of "used to" or by time adverbial expressions (e.g. years ago, when I was a child)."

CalifJim · Answer

English 1b3It is not the simple past tense.

This is true.

English 1b3With "would", it is necessary to have an already established past time-frame.

This is usually true in practice. But not always. "would" can also be borrowed into present time, epecially in idioms with "would" that indicate politeness. I would like a piece of cake (now). And in the pattern called the second conditional, "would" is actually an indicator of present-time (or future-time) hypothetical results. I would go with you (now) if I could (now).

English 1b3The past time-frame is often established by a previous occurrence of "used to" or by time adverbial expressions (e.g. years ago, when I was a child).

If it is desired to use "would" to suggest past time, these are a few good ways to do it.

CJ

English 1b3 · Answer

CalifJimWith "would", it is necessary to have an already established past time-frame.[/

Sorry to bother you again with this, but I would really appreciate if you could explain what is meant by this statement above. I thought I got it. But I don't. I thought that would is a modal that has a tense of its own--as you said. Is this statement is not denying this?

Thanks

Would--3 quick questions

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