Tuesday, February 26, 2019

modal verbs - "Would", being the short version of "would like to" here?



Would can be used to describe what people are willing to do. This can also be seen as including an unspoken condition.



Tony would lend you his car. (... if you asked him ...)


Only a real fan would pay that much for a ticket (Only if someone was a fan would they pay ...)


--Page 78 (Macmillan - Inside Out English Grammar in Context Advanced)



Is this particular usage of "would" normal to see or hear?


Can I think of "would" here as being the short version of "would like to"?



Answer



It is not an elliptical or shortened version of would like to. It is rather a different, older sense of will meaning be willing to.


The modal auxiliary verb will developed from an Old English lexical verb which meant approximately want, desire. Today the modal has three distinct senses:





  • futurive, signifying future time reference



    Tomorrow John will go to London.
    John said yesterday that he would finish the job when he finds time.





  • dynamic, signifying persistent action




    When I was a child I would often read for hours every day.
    If you will keep teasing her you must expect her to get angry. (In this use, where it means approximately "If you insist on teasing her", will is strongly stressed.)





  • volitive, signifying willingness



    If they would only listen they might learn something.
    If you will bring beer, I will bring chips.






The dynamic and volitive uses may include future reference.


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