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Use of "Would"

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kimdsouza
 Post subject: Use of "Would"
 Post Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:45 am 
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Students


Posts: 2
Hi Instructors,

I'm a little confused about the usage of "would".

I know that "Would" is used in the following situations:
1) Refering to the Future in the Past
Example:
The company announced that it would expand into Asia next month.

2) Subjunctive Mood (Hypothetical Situations)
Example:
If I were rich, then I would buy an island

Question 1
Are the situations listed above comprehensive? - Any other situation in which "would" can be used?

Question 2
I have seen the following sentences that use "would"
Are these sentences are correct?
A: What would you like to see in the next book?
B: I wouldn't like that
C: Would you do me a favour?
D: I Would never do that
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vsatish_chandra
 Post subject: Re: Use of "Would"
 Post Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:09 pm 
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Students


Posts: 4
kimdsouza wrote:
I know that "Would" is used in the following situations:
1) Refering to the Future in the Past
Example:
The company announced that it would expand into Asia next month.

2) Subjunctive Mood (Hypothetical Situations)
Example:
If I were rich, then I would buy an island

Question 1
Are the situations listed above comprehensive? - Any other situation in which "would" can be used?


As far as I have read, these are the only two correct usages of 'would'



kimdsouza wrote:
Question 2
I have seen the following sentences that use "would"
Are these sentences are correct?
A: What would you like to see in the next book?
B: I wouldn't like that
C: Would you do me a favour?
D: I Would never do that



I think the phrases/sentences that you have mentioned under your second question are those we use during normal (ie. non-GMAT) conversations - also called "colloquial usage".

In some of your examples, 'would' is used in a subjunctive mood -

for example:if you elaborate the sentence: "I would never do that", it should read:

"if I were you (which is hypothetical), I would never do that" - this usage is inline with what GMAT considers correct.


I think the important point to consider here is to not read past 'will' or 'would' in a SC question without double checking the verb tense and mood.
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kimdsouza
 Post subject: Re: Use of "Would"
 Post Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:16 pm 
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Students


Posts: 2
Thanks Satish! - Good explanation there

Instructors, Can you please confirm?
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tim
 Post subject: Re: Use of "Would"
 Post Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:31 am 
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ManhattanGMAT Staff


Posts: 2242
Location: Southwest Airlines, seat 21C
"would" is used to express a hypothetical, as demonstrated in both of your examples. This is pretty much the only use you'll see on the GMAT..

_________________
Tim Sanders
Manhattan GMAT Instructor
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