Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

WOULD

390

Uses

Would

has many meanings. A number of its uses refer to past time. It is also used

in conditional sentences, and as a hedge to soften statements and requests.

650 | Modality

Cambridge Grammar of English

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Past time

390a

Reported clauses

Would

can function as the past tense of will in reported clauses:

I knew that 

would cause a problem.

(report of a thought or statement: I know that will cause a problem.)

Future-in-the-past

Would

can refer to future-in-the-past, when the speaker looks forward in time

from a point in the past:

Her funny crooked smile and short bouncy hair inspired him with exciting

ideas of friendship. Perhaps one day he 

would summon the courage to speak to

her, see how things went.