Intermediate Grammar
Master English grammar one unit at a time. Clear notes, then 40+ interactive exercises with instant feedback — based on the topics in English Grammar in Use (Intermediate).
Would“would / ‘d (imagined) · would have done · wouldn’t (refused) · past habit” — 44 interactive questions
📖 Grammar Reference — Would
Study the notes, then work through the six exercises.
A would (‘d) — imagining something that isn’t real now
We use would (‘d) + base verb when we picture a situation or action that is not real right now — a wish, an imagined result, or an opinion:
💡 would love / like / enjoy / hate / prefer are very common: I‘d love to travel more. Always would + base — never would to be.
B would have (done) — imagining the past
For an imagined past — something that didn’t actually happen — use would have + past participle:
💡 Write would have (or ‘d have), never would of.
C will or would? real vs imagined · the past of will
When we report what someone said, or look back from the past, will becomes would:
D wouldn’t = refused · would = a past habit
| refused | wouldn’t | I asked him to help, but he wouldn’t. |
| “refused” to work | wouldn’t | The car wouldn’t start this morning. |
| past habit | would | When we were young, we would play outside for hours. |
would for repeated actions in the past means the same as used to — but only for actions, not states:
💡 wouldn’t + verb can mean a person (or thing) refused to do it.
Made with care for English learners · allenglish4u.com
Original practice material inspired by the English Grammar in Use syllabus (Cambridge University Press). Example sentences and exercises are written by All English 4U.