would I would 可以用作will 的過去式。例如,在報導句式中(參看 534) 的報導動詞後面就可以用 would. 試比較 'I'll see you again tomorrow.' “明天我還要見你。’ He said he would see me again the next day. 636 他說他第二天還要見我。
would 也可以表示‘在過去的將來時間的概念(亦即談及一個過去的動作,但是在我們說話的當時還未發生)。有關細節,參看 258。 So this was the place where I would work. I did not like its appearance. 那麼這就是我要工作的地方了。可是我不喜歡這地方的外觀。 In Berlin, he first met the woman whom he would one day marry. 在柏林,他第一次遇見那個女人,後來他跟她結了婚。
would 的另外一種用法是談論過去的習慣與特有的行為(參看 631)。 Sometimes she would bring me little presents, without saying why. 有時候她會給我帶一些小禮物,也不說為什麼這樣做。 過去的拒絕可以用 wouldn't 來表示。 He was angry because I wouldn't lend him any money. 他很生氣,因為我不借錢給他。
2 would 並不都表示過去的語意。在很多結構中, would 像是will的比較不肯定的’形式。 would的‘條件’用法是這方面的一種例子(參看151 與363). What would you do if you had a free year? 你如果有一年的休假的話,你會做些什麼? I would like a cup of tea. 我想要一杯茶。 用 would 來提出的請求要比用 will 來得更客氣些。 Would you open the window, please? 可以請您把窗子打開嗎? would I wish 及 if only 之後也可以代替 will (表示願意)。 在 if 後面 will 或 would 都可以(用 would 比較更客氣)。
I wish you would talk more quietly. 我希望你能小聲一點說話。 If only the postman would come! 但願郵差會來! If you would come this way, I'll see if the principal is free. 如果你跟我往這邊走,我會去看看校長是否有空。 this way...) (或是:If you will come在有些情形下,第一人稱可以用 should 來代替 would (作 shall 的過去形式;參看549)。
would used to would 與 used to 都可用來談過去的習慣。
637 When we were children we used to/would go skating every winter. 當我們小的時候,我們每年冬天都去滑冰。 used to 可用來談論動作以外也可以談論狀態與情況。 would 只可以用來談一再重複的動作。 I used to have an old Rolls Royce. (*I would... 在這種情形下不可使用)。 我以往有一部勞斯萊斯轎車。 注意: would 與 used to 不能用來表示某事發生的次數。 We went to Africa six times when I was a child. 我小時候,我們去過非洲六次。 (不是:*We used to go... six times... or *We would go... six times...) 關於 used to 的詳細情形,參看 614。
