Would, being always pert of conditional forms

When I was a boy, I would play for hours on my own.


No conditional there.

Do you think, that playing has happened, indeed? Has the boy played in reality, at the time, or is it just a wish: "If I were a boy, I would play for hour on my own"?

KhoshtipManHas the boy played in reality, at the time

A big "Yes" to that question!

CJ

'Would' in that sentence has a very similar meaning to 'used to'. There is no conditional idea at all

Julius Caesar said he would conquer Gaul


There is no conditional in that sentence, either. 'Would' is the backshifted form in 'will' in reported speech.

Thanks CJ

You may want to answer this question too!
And then, why didn't the person say, "When I was a boy, I playe

Because they wanted to add the idea that this was a habitual practice.

Good answers, and good new info (at least for me). Thanks 5jj.

What about this passage:
A: America is not completely democratic.
B-a) I didn't know this.
B-b) I wouldn't know this.

What is the difference between B-a) and B-b) please?

And I didn't understand the part "Would' is the backshifted form in 'will' in reported speech. completely.

KhoshtipMandifference between B-a) and B-b)

I didn't know this. ~ I had no knowledge of it. (direct)
I wouldn't know this. ~ I am not the kind of person who knows these things; therefore, I didn't know it, and that shouldn't be surprising to anyone. (indirect) (This one has shades of forgiving oneself for not knowing.)

Khos

Very nice and complete answer! Thanks Jim!

CalifJimI wouldn't know this. ~ I am not the kind of person who

KhoshtipManDo you agree (with me) that this one, too, is not of a conditional form

Yes, though, truth be told, you can almost always make a conditional appear as if by magic if you are willing to be very creative about it. In the case at hand,

I wouldn't know this if you asked me.

It's all a matter of how far you are willing to go in