It would be

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"would" has a different usages. In the following sentence which one does "would" refer to?
It would be most convenient if you were to arrive before noon.

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@tara85,

First things first: "Would" has different usages".--"usages" is plural, while "a" is singular. Additionally, the first word of all sentences must be capitalized.

In this case, "would" establishes the condition of "most convenient," and therefore, one uses the conditional form of the verb to be, which is would. One clue to this is the use of "were" in the subsequent clause, which is the subjunctive. (The subjunctive is much neglected, and I suspect that many native speakers these days don't even know what it is.)

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@Setanta,

Thanks.
Does "would" refer to "future in the past"?

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@tara85,

See this site for explanation of using would and if

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/second-conditional.html

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@tara85,

would

verb

1.
past of will, in various senses.
"he said he would be away for a couple of days"

2.
(expressing the conditional mood) indicating the consequence of an imagined event or situation.
"he would lose his job if he were identified"

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@tara85,

tara85 wrote:

Thanks.
Does "would" refer to "future in the past"?

Yes, it does. I say now "I will eat a hot dog in the next few minutes." I am referring to my immediate future. Later, when that event is in the past, you say "Centrox said he would eat a hot dog in the next few minutes". Future in the past.

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@centrox,

Thank you

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Note: what was the future in the past can still be in the future in the present, and still require 'would', e.g.: When Tom was aged 20, he said he would be married before he was 30. He is 25 now. I wonder if he will do it?

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@centrox,

thank you

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@tara85,

Tara, ye, doncha 'gree those sorta guys really smart. One reason I stick w/ a2k, whaddya think

Apparently ur a newcomer, welcome !!

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@dalehileman,

Hello!
Thanks.
Can you please tell why in this sentence 'would' is used? is it refer to 'less direct' or 'conditional' or 'future in the past'?
I'd put the comma after the closing quotation marks.

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@tara85,

Conditional - [If I were writing that sentence,] I would put the comma after the closing quotation marks.

Polite/indirect way of expressing opinion or giving advice - [If I were you,] I would put the comma after the closing quotation marks.

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@centrox,

Do you mean 'conditional' and 'politness' both is correct?

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@tara85,

tara85 wrote:

Do you mean 'conditional' and 'politness' both is correct?

Yes. We can use the conditional to be polite.

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@centrox,

Thank you very much Centro.

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Often, a direct request or instruction can make both speaker and listener uncomfortable, and a conditional method of expression can soften this.

Examples:

In a shop:

I want two kilos of potatoes! (rude)

I would like two kilos of potatoes, please.

Helping someone in a task:

Start the sentence with a capital letter, and end it with a period. (slightly abrupt and direct).

I'd start the sentence with a capital letter, and end it with a period. (less direct).

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@centrox,

Thanks so much.
In this sentence you wanted to address another person, but you use 'I'd start ' to be less direct?
I'd start the sentence with a capital letter, and end it with a period. (less direct).

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@tara85,

Quote:

Hello

Hello!!

Quote:

Thanks

Most welcome, Tara.

Quote:

Can you please tell why in this sentence 'would' is used?

'It would be most convenient if you were to arrive before noon.'

No, that is, Tara, not 'swell as yo say it in 'less direct' or 'conditional' or 'future in the past'

Quote:

I'd put the comma after the closing quotation marks

Who's comma, where, and which quotation

1 Reply

@dalehileman,

Do you write Italian?
I don't understand: who's camma, where...

3 Replies

@tara85,

I can write 'Italian,' but in'Glish

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It would be

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