would

[forma debole wəd, forma forte wʊd]

verbo modale (negat. wouldn't)

1) (in sequence of past tenses, in reported speech)

she said she wouldn't come — disse che non sarebbe venuta

we thought we would be late — credevamo di arrivare in ritardo

he thought she would have forgotten — pensava che avrebbe dimenticato

I wish he would shut the door! — potrebbe chiudere la porta!

I wish you'd be quiet! — potresti stare zitto! vorrei che stessi zitto!

2) (in conditional statements)

it would be wonderful if they came — sarebbe meraviglioso se venissero

if we'd left later we would have missed the train — se fossimo partiti più tardi avremmo perso il treno

we wouldn't be happy anywhere else — non saremmo felici in nessun altro posto

who would ever have believed it? — chi mai l'avrebbe creduto?

you wouldn't have thought it possible! — non lo si sarebbe creduto possibile!

so it would seem — così sembrerebbe

I wouldn't know — non saprei

wouldn't it be better to write? — non sarebbe meglio scrivere?

3) (expressing willingness to act)

do you know anyone who would do it? — conosci qualcuno che lo farebbe?

he just wouldn't listen — non voleva proprio ascoltare

after that I wouldn't eat any canned food — dopo quell'episodio, non ho più voluto saperne di mangiare cibo in scatola

the police wouldn't give any further details — la polizia non voleva fornire ulteriori particolari

they asked me to leave but I wouldn't — mi chiesero di andarmene ma io non ho voluto

4) (expressing inability to function)

the door wouldn't close — la porta non voleva chiudersi

5) (expressing desire, preference)

we would like to stay — vorremmo restare

we'd really love to see you — vorremo davvero vederti, abbiamo davvero voglia di vederti

I would much rather travel alone — preferisco di gran lunga viaggiare da solo

I wouldn't mind another slice of cake — non mi dispiacerebbe prendere un'altra fetta di torta

6) (in polite requests or proposals)

would you like something to eat, some more tea? — vuoi qualcosa da mangiare, ancora del tè?

would you help me set the table? — mi aiuteresti ad apparecchiare la tavola?

switch off the radio, would you? — spegneresti la radio?

would you like to go to a concert? — ti piacerebbe andare a un concerto?

would you give her the message? — potrebbe darle il messaggio?

would you mind not smoking please? — potrebbe non fumare per cortesia?

7) (expressing an assumption)

what time would that be? — a che ora più o meno?

it would have been about five years ago — doveva essere circa cinque anni fa

8) (indicating habitual event or behaviour in past: used to)

she would sit for hours at the window — sedeva per ore alla finestra

••

Note:

When would is used with a verb in English to form the conditional tense, would + verb is translated by the present conditional of the appropriate verb in Italian and would have + verb by the past conditional of the appropriate verb: I would do it if I had time = lo farei se avessi tempo; I would have done it if I had had time = l'avrei fatto se avessi avuto tempo. - However, in sequence of past tenses and in reported speech, would + verb is translated by the past conditional of the appropriate Italian verb: I was sure you would like it = ero sicuro che ti sarebbe piaciuto (not "piacerebbe"); he said he would fetch the car = disse che avrebbe preso (not "prenderebbe") la macchina. - For more examples, particular usages and all other uses of would see the entry below

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[wud]

short forms - I'd; verb

1) (past tense of will: He said he would be leaving at nine o'clock the next morning; I asked if he'd come and mend my television set; I asked him to do it, but he wouldn't; I thought you would have finished by now.) (ausiliare per la formazione del condizionale presente)

2) (used in speaking of something that will, may or might happen (eg if a certain condition is met): If I asked her to the party, would she come?; I would have come to the party if you'd asked me; I'd be happy to help you.) (ausiliare per la formazione del condizionale presente)

3) (used to express a preference, opinion etc politely: I would do it this way; It'd be a shame to lose the opportunity; I'd prefer to go tomorrow rather than today.) (ausiliare per la formazione del condizionale presente)

4) (used, said with emphasis, to express annoyance: I've lost my car-keys - that would happen!)

•

- would-be

- would you

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[forma debole wəd, forma forte wʊd]

verbo modale (negat. wouldn't)

1) (in sequence of past tenses, in reported speech)

she said she wouldn't come — disse che non sarebbe venuta

we thought we would be late — credevamo di arrivare in ritardo

he thought she would have forgotten — pensava che avrebbe dimenticato

I wish he would shut the door! — potrebbe chiudere la porta!

I wish you'd be quiet! — potresti stare zitto! vorrei che stessi zitto!

2) (in conditional statements)

it would be wonderful if they came — sarebbe meraviglioso se venissero

if we'd left later we would have missed the train — se fossimo partiti più tardi avremmo perso il treno

we wouldn't be happy anywhere else — non saremmo felici in nessun altro posto

who would ever have believed it? — chi mai l'avrebbe creduto?

you wouldn't have thought it possible! — non lo si sarebbe creduto possibile!

so it would seem — così sembrerebbe

I wouldn't know — non saprei

wouldn't it be better to write? — non sarebbe meglio scrivere?

3) (expressing willingness to act)

do you know anyone who would do it? — conosci qualcuno che lo farebbe?

he just wouldn't listen — non voleva proprio ascoltare

after that I wouldn't eat any canned food — dopo quell'episodio, non ho più voluto saperne di mangiare cibo in scatola

the police wouldn't give any further details — la polizia non voleva fornire ulteriori particolari

they asked me to leave but I wouldn't — mi chiesero di andarmene ma io non ho voluto

4) (expressing inability to function)

the door wouldn't close — la porta non voleva chiudersi

5) (expressing desire, preference)

we would like to stay — vorremmo restare

we'd really love to see you — vorremo davvero vederti, abbiamo davvero voglia di vederti

I would much rather travel alone — preferisco di gran lunga viaggiare da solo

I wouldn't mind another slice of cake — non mi dispiacerebbe prendere un'altra fetta di torta

6) (in polite requests or proposals)

would you like something to eat, some more tea? — vuoi qualcosa da mangiare, ancora del tè?

would you help me set the table? — mi aiuteresti ad apparecchiare la tavola?

switch off the radio, would you? — spegneresti la radio?

would you like to go to a concert? — ti piacerebbe andare a un concerto?

would you give her the message? — potrebbe darle il messaggio?

would you mind not smoking please? — potrebbe non fumare per cortesia?

7) (expressing an assumption)

what time would that be? — a che ora più o meno?

it would have been about five years ago — doveva essere circa cinque anni fa

8) (indicating habitual event or behaviour in past: used to)

she would sit for hours at the window — sedeva per ore alla finestra

••

Note:

When would is used with a verb in English to form the conditional tense, would + verb is translated by the present conditional of the appropriate verb in Italian and would have + verb by the past conditional of the appropriate verb: I would do it if I had time = lo farei se avessi tempo; I would have done it if I had had time = l'avrei fatto se avessi avuto tempo. - However, in sequence of past tenses and in reported speech, would + verb is translated by the past conditional of the appropriate Italian verb: I was sure you would like it = ero sicuro che ti sarebbe piaciuto (not "piacerebbe"); he said he would fetch the car = disse che avrebbe preso (not "prenderebbe") la macchina. - For more examples, particular usages and all other uses of would see the entry below