Using Would

The modal auxiliary would is used in three different contexts:

1. EXPRESSING PREFERENCE:

--I would rather visit Los Angeles. (I"d rather... )

(Would rather means prefer.)

2. EXPRESSING REPEATED ACTION IN THE PAST:

--When she was alive, Aunt Stephanie would visit the West Coast.

(Would is used with regularly repeated actions in the past.)

3. POLITE REQUESTS

--I would appreciate hearing from you soon.

(Would is frequently used with polite requests.)

When used to express a repeated action in the past, would often takes the place of used to:

--When they were students, they would go skiing every winter.

ALSO:

--When they were students, they used to go skiing every winter.

However, when used to refers to a situation that existed (but was not necessarily repeated) in the past, would may not serve as a replacement:

--Aunt Stephanie used to live in Chicago.

NOT:

--Aunt Stephanie would live in Chicago.

Would can also be used in conditional sentences:

--If I had more time, I would read the instructions carefully.