would
gb/wˈʊd/ us/wˈʊd/
A2
English
~ 100
-na/-ne/-ná/-né, volna, szokott, szeretne, szívesen, fog
VERB
B1
1
volna
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] would [verb] if [condition]
I would travel more if I had more money.
Többet utaznék, ha több pénzem lenne.
She would help you if she could.
Segítene neked, ha tudna.
They would buy the house if it were cheaper.
If I were you, I would take the job.
Learner examples
I would eat ice cream if it was hot.
Ennék fagylaltot, ha nagy meleg lenne.
She would call you if she had your number.
Felhívna, ha tudná a telefonszámodat.
We would play outside if it was sunny.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'would' with 'will'. 'Will' is for real future events, while 'would' is for imagined or conditional situations.
Meaning
Express possibility or hypothetical
Collocations
would like
|would go
|would help
|would see
Synonyms
might (Suggests a lower degree of certainty than 'would'.)
Antonyms
will (Indicates certainty or strong intention instead of hypothetical.)
Themes
grammar
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to talk about something that might happen, could have happened, or is imagined.
Used to indicate a possible, imagined, or hypothetical action or situation, often dependent on a condition.
VERB
B1
2
szokott
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] would [verb] [time reference]
When we were kids, we would play outside until dark.
Gyerekkorunkban sötétedésig kint szoktunk játszani.
Every summer, we would visit our grandparents.
Minden nyáron meglátogattuk a nagyszüleinket.
He would always bring flowers on her birthday.
Learner examples
When I was young, I would swim every day.
Amikor fiatal voltam, mindennap úsztam.
We would eat dinner together every night.
Minden este együtt vacsoráztunk.
She would read me a story before bed.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'would' for single past events; it should be used for repeated actions.
Meaning
Express past habit
Collocations
would always say
|would often go
|would visit
Synonyms
used to ('Used to' is more common for describing past states as well as actions; 'would' is mainly for actions.)
Themes
grammar
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to talk about something that happened often in the past but does not happen now.
Used to describe an action that someone regularly did in the past.
VERB
A2
3
Usage pattern:
Would [someone] [verb] ...? / I would [verb] ...
Would you like some coffee?
Szeretnél egy kis kávét?
I would be happy to help you.
Szívesen segítek.
Would you mind closing the window?
Learner examples
Would you like some tea?
Szeretnél egy kis teát?
I would like to help you.
Szeretnék segíteni.
Would you open the door?
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget to use 'would' in polite offers, using direct forms that may sound rude.
Meaning
Make polite request/offer
Collocations
would you mind
|would you like
|would you help
Synonyms
could ('Could' can be slightly less formal; 'would' is often softer and more polite.)
Themes
politeness
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to ask or offer something politely.
Used to make a polite request, invitation, or offer.
VERB
B1
4
fog
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] said (that) they would [verb]
She said she would call me later.
Azt mondta, hogy később fel fog hívni.
We knew it would rain that day.
Tudtuk, hogy aznap esni fog.
He promised he would help us.
Learner examples
He said he would come tomorrow.
Azt mondta, hogy holnap el fog jönni.
I thought it would snow yesterday.
Azt hittem, hogy tegnap havazni fog.
She told me she would help.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 'will' instead of 'would' when reporting past speech about the future.
Meaning
Future seen from the past
Collocations
said he would
|knew she would
|thought they would
Themes
grammar
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used when talking about the future from a point in the past.
Used to talk about something that was expected or planned to happen after a certain time in the past.
Grammar
Dictionary form
would
IPA
GB/wˈʊd/
US/wˈʊd/
Syllables & stress
would (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (would)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: would
- 3rd Person Singular: woulds
- Present Participle: woulding
- Past: woulded
- Past Participle: woulded
Word family
Forms
woulds
verb
woulding
verb
woulded
verb
Core family
will
verb A1
Negative and opposite forms
wouldn't
verb A2
Advanced or less common
would-be
adjective B2
Expressions
if I were you, I would
1/ˈɪf ˈaɪ wɚ jˈu | ˈaɪ wˈʊd/
fixed phrase
Advice in hypothetical situation
A way to give advice by imagining being the other person.
Examples
- If I were you, I would talk to her about it.
- If I were you, I would take that job offer.
would like to
1/wˈʊd lˈaɪk tə/
fixed phrase
Polite expression of desire
A polite way to say what you want to do or have.
Examples
- I would like to order a coffee, please.
- She would like to visit Paris someday.
would you mind
1/wˈʊd jˈu mˈaɪnd/
fixed phrase
Polite request or permission check
A polite way to ask someone to do something or allow something.
Examples
- Would you mind closing the door?
- Would you mind if I opened the window?