(would可以看作是will的过去式,这两个词除了时态不相同外,在表达意思的许多方面是相近的。当然will 和would又都有一些各自不同的独特用法。)
1)用于第二人称疑问句,表示请求(在这种用法中would使语气更为客气、委婉)
Will you tell her that I'll be back in twenty minutes?
请告诉她我二十分钟后回来,好吗?
If you want help, just let me know , will you?
你需要帮助就告诉我,好吗?
Won't you come in and have a little whisky?
你要不要进来喝一点儿威士忌?(或是:你进来喝一点儿威士忌,好吗?)
Would you tell me how to get to the shopping center?
您能告诉我怎么去购物中心吗?
2)用于表示愿望
Go where you will .去你想去的地方吧。
I will pay you at the rate you ask.我会按你要的利率付给你钱的。
He wouldn't let the doctor take his blood pressure.他不愿意让大夫给他量血压。
They had to obey whether they would or not.他们不得不遵从他们的意愿。
3)表示习惯、倾向(可译成"总是会、老是,等" )
Sometimes the cat will lie there all afternoon.
有时侯,那只猫总是整个下午都躺在那儿。
Oil and water will not mix .油和水决不能调和。
He would sit there for hours , doing nothing at all.
他总是在那儿一坐就是几个小时,什么都不干。
4)表示猜测(可译成"一定是……、想必……,等" )
This will be the house you're looking for .这想必就是你要找的房子吧。
He will have gone back to New Zealand .他一定是回新西兰去了。
The person you mentioned would be the father , is that right?
你说的那个人一定是爸爸了,对吗?
That would be in 1999 , I think .那大概是在1999年吧。
5)will用于表示决心(可译成"一定要,决心,等" )
We will never talk about that subject again.
我们决不会再谈论这个话题了。
I will make this computer work even if I have to stay up all night.
我即使整晚不睡觉也一定要让这台计算机工作起来。
6)would常用于虚拟条件句,表示与事实相反或不太可能实现的情况
But for your help we would have been late .要不是你帮忙我们就迟到了。
Well , I wouldn't worry about it . It won't do me any good.
好了,我不会担心那件事的,因为它不会给我带来什么好处。
