WOULD

WOULD for Past Habits (भूतकाल की आदत)

To describe repeated actions in the past

• Would for past habits is always used to describe repeated actions in the past, something that happened regularly before but is not happening now.

• If a habit still exists, we use Present Simple instead of would.

Key Rule in Articles / Writing

1. When introducing a past habit or state for the first time, use “used to”.

2. After that, when describing repeated actions or events, you can switch to “would” to avoid repetition.

Examples: 

1. When I was young, I would play cricket with my friends every evening.
   जब मैं छोटा था, मैं हर शाम अपने दोस्तों के साथ क्रिकेट खेला करता था।

2. My father would read me stories before sleeping every night.
   मेरे पिता मुझे हर रात सोने से पहले कहानियाँ सुनाया करते थे।

3. During winters, we would drink hot chocolate by the fireplace.
   सर्दियों में, हम फायरप्लेस के पास गर्म चॉकलेट पीते थे।

4. She would always write letters to her cousins during holidays.
   वह छुट्टियों में हमेशा अपने चचेरे भाई-बहनों को पत्र लिखा करती थी।

5. Every Sunday, I would visit the park and feed the pigeons.
   हर रविवार, मैं पार्क जाता और कबूतरों को खाना खिलाता था।

Step 1: Introduce Habit or State (use “used to”)

• English: When I was a child, I used to live in a small village near the river.

• Hindi: जब मैं बच्चा था, मैं नदी के पास एक छोटे गाँव में रहता था।

Step 2: Describe repeated actions (use “would”)

• English: Every morning, I would run to the river to watch the sunrise and feed the ducks.

• Hindi: हर सुबह, मैं सूरज निकलते ही नदी की ओर दौड़ता और बत्तखों को खाना देता।

Explanation:

• Now we are describing repeated actions in that past setting.

• Using would avoids repeating “used to” and makes the narrative smoother.

WOULD for POSSIBILITY

1. Present Possibility (वर्तमान में संभावना)

Structure: would + V1

1. That would be her bag.
   वह शायद उसका बैग होगा।
   Evidence: Only one bag looks like hers, logical guess.

2. He would know the answer.
   वह शायद उत्तर जानता होगा।
   Evidence: He is usually good at this subject.

3. They would be at home now.
   वे शायद अभी घर पर होंगे।
   Evidence: It’s evening and they always stay home at this time.

4. This would be the right solution.
   यह शायद सही समाधान होगा।
   Evidence: It fits all the given conditions.

5. She would be tired after the journey.
   वह शायद यात्रा के बाद थकी होगी।
   Evidence: The journey was long and exhausting.

2. Past Possibility (भूतकाल में संभावना)

Structure: would have + V3

1. He would have missed the train.
   वह शायद ट्रेन चूक गया होगा।
   Evidence: He left late for the station.

2. That would have been her idea.
   वह शायद उसका आइडिया रहा होगा।
   Evidence: She usually comes up with creative solutions.

3. They would have reached by now.
   वे शायद अब तक पहुँच गए होंगे।
   Evidence: It’s been two hours since they left.

4. I would have forgotten the meeting.
   मैं शायद बैठक भूल गया होता।
   Evidence: I was very busy yesterday.

5. She would have completed the assignment.
   उसने शायद असाइनमेंट पूरा कर लिया होगा।
   Evidence: She is always punctual with her work.

3. Future Possibility (भविष्य में संभावना)

Structure: would + V1 / conditional

1. She would probably arrive late.
   वह शायद देर से आएगी।
   Evidence: She always comes late when it rains.

2. That would happen if it rains tomorrow.
   अगर कल बारिश होती है, तो वह शायद होगा।
   Evidence: The event depends on the weather forecast.

3. He would likely accept the offer.
   वह शायद प्रस्ताव स्वीकार कर लेगा।
   Evidence: He has been waiting for such an opportunity.

4. They would join us if they are free.
   वे शायद हमसे जुड़ेंगे अगर वे फ्री होंगे।
   Evidence: They usually join us when available.

5. I would visit the museum next week.
   मैं शायद अगले हफ्ते म्यूज़ियम जाऊँगा।
   Evidence: The tickets are booked and plan is ready.

Use of “होता” in Hindi Sentences and Its English Equivalents

1. “होता” for Habitual Action (Past Habit) → WOULD / USED TO

Explanation

When “होता था/थे/थी” is used to describe past repeated actions, it corresponds to “would” or “used to” in English.

Examples

1. जब मैं बच्चा था, मैं रोज़ बाहर खेला करता था।
   When I was a child, I would play outside every day.
   Explanation: Habit in the past - WOULD

2. वह हर सुबह दूध पीता था।
   He used to drink milk every morning.
   Explanation: Past routine - USED TO (can also use WOULD)

Rule

1. Hindi: होता / होती / होते + past tense - repeated past action
2. English: would + V1 or used to + V1

2. “होता” के sense में  —past possibility —WOULD

1. अगर वह समय पर आता, तो काम आसान होता।
   If he had come on time, the work would have been easy.
   Explanation: यह past unreal / past possibility है। घटना हुई नहीं, इसलिए would have + V3 का प्रयोग हुआ।

2. अगर मैंने तुम्हें पहले बताया होता, तो तुम नाराज़ नहीं होते।
   If I had told you earlier, you would not have been angry.
   Explanation: भूतकाल की कल्पनिक स्थिति है। “होते” यहाँ would have been के बराबर है।

3. अगर मौसम साफ़ रहा होता, तो मैच हो जाता और माहौल अच्छा होता।
   If the weather had been clear, the match would have happened and the atmosphere would have been good.
   Explanation: Past condition false है, इसलिए result में would have आया है।

4. अगर उसने मेहनत की होती, तो उसका चयन आसान होता।
   If he had worked hard, his selection would have been easy.
   Explanation: यह past missed opportunity दिखाता है। “होता” → would have been।

5. अगर हमने ट्रेन पकड़ ली होती, तो हम समय पर पहुँच चुके होते।
   If we had caught the train, we would have reached on time.
   Explanation: भूतकाल में संभावना थी लेकिन पूरी नहीं हुई, इसलिए would have + V3 प्रयोग हुआ।

WOULD – Past ↔ Future Relationship

(Future seen from a past point of view)

1. He said he would come the next day.
उसने कहा कि वह अगले दिन आएगा।
Explanation: The original future (will come) is reported in the past, so will → would.

2. I knew she would understand my problem.
मुझे पता था कि वह मेरी समस्या समझ लेगी।
Explanation: The understanding happens in the future, but the knowing is in the past, so would is used.

3. They promised that they would help me.
उन्होंने वादा किया था कि वे मेरी मदद करेंगे।
Explanation: The promise was made in the past; the help was future from that past moment.

4. He thought the train would arrive late.
उसने सोचा कि ट्रेन देर से आएगी।
Explanation: The thinking happened earlier; the arrival was still in the future relative to that past time.

5. She believed that her hard work would pay off.
उसे विश्वास था कि उसकी मेहनत रंग लाएगी।
Explanation: Belief is in the past, result is future → would shows future-in-the-past.

Future According to Past (Future in the Past)

👉 When a sentence talks about future action, but the reporting verb is in the past, we shift:

1. Future Indefinite in the Past

Examples

1. He said that he would help me.
   उसने कहा कि वह मेरी मदद करेगा।

2. She told me she would come tomorrow.
   उसने मुझसे कहा कि वह कल आएगी।

3. I knew that they would win the match.
   मुझे पता था कि वे मैच जीतेंगे।

Why “would”?

Because the statement was future at that time, but now we are reporting it in the past.

2. Future Continuous in the Past

Structure

Subject + would be + V-ing

Examples

1. He said that he would be working at night.
   उसने कहा कि वह रात में काम कर रहा होगा।

2. She thought I would be waiting for her.
   उसने सोचा कि मैं उसका इंतज़ार कर रहा होऊँगा।

3. They announced that they would be traveling next week.
   उन्होंने बताया कि वे अगले हफ्ते यात्रा कर रहे होंगे।

Why this tense?

It shows an action that was expected to be in progress in the future, viewed from the past.

3. Future Perfect in the Past

Structure

Subject + would have + V3

Examples

1. He believed that she would have finished the work.
   उसे विश्वास था कि वह काम पूरा कर चुकी होगी।

2. I thought that you would have reached home by then.
   मुझे लगा था कि तब तक तुम घर पहुँच चुके होगे।

3. She said that they would have left before evening.
   उसने कहा कि वे शाम से पहले निकल चुके होंगे।

Why this tense?

It expresses a completed future action, but from a past viewpoint.

4. Future Perfect Continuous in the Past

Structure

Subject + would have been + V-ing

Examples 

1. He said that he would have been working there for five years.
   उसने कहा कि वह वहाँ पाँच साल से काम कर रहा होगा।

2. She knew that I would have been waiting for two hours.
   उसे पता था कि मैं दो घंटे से इंतज़ार कर रहा होऊँगा।

3. They thought that by June, we would have been living here for a decade.
   उन्होंने सोचा कि जून तक हम यहाँ दस साल से रह रहे होंगे।

Why this tense?

It shows the duration of an action, expected to continue up to a future point, but spoken from the past.

WOULD for Polite Requests (विनम्र अनुरोध)

“Would” is used when you want to sound:

1. respectful

2. soft

3. non-pushy

4. socially polished

It’s perfect for formal + semi-formal + polite spoken English.

1. Would you help me, please?
   क्या आप मेरी मदद करेंगे, कृपया?

2. Would you open the door for me?
   क्या आप मेरे लिए दरवाज़ा खोल देंगे?

3. Would you mind waiting for a moment?
   क्या आप एक पल इंतज़ार करेंगे?

4. Would you explain this topic again?
   क्या आप यह विषय फिर से समझा देंगे?

5. Would you lend me your pen?
   क्या आप मुझे अपनी कलम दे देंगे?

WOULD for Preferences (पसंद)

जब हम किसी पसंद या चुनाव को नरमी, शिष्टता या कल्पना के रूप में बताते हैं, तब would का प्रयोग किया जाता है। यह स्थायी आदत नहीं, बल्कि उस समय की पसंद बताता है।

Common Structures for Preference

1. would like + noun / to + V1

2. would rather + V1

3. would prefer + noun / to + V1

Examples of “WOULD” for Preferences

1. I would like to have a cup of tea.
   मैं एक कप चाय लेना चाहूँगा।
   (Polite preference)

2. She would rather stay at home today.
   वह आज घर पर रहना पसंद करेगी।
   (Choice in a situation)

3. He would prefer coffee to tea.
   वह चाय के बजाय कॉफी पसंद करेगा।
   (Comparison of choices)

4. We would like to watch a movie tonight.
   हम आज रात एक फ़िल्म देखना चाहेंगे।
   (Soft future preference)

5. They would rather walk than take a bus.
   वे बस लेने के बजाय पैदल चलना पसंद करेंगे।
   (Preference between two options)

“Would like to” for Willingness (इच्छा / तैयार होना)

“Would like to” is used to show willingness or desire in a polite and respectful way. It is softer and more formal than want to.

“Would like to” का प्रयोग इच्छा या तैयार होने को विनम्र तरीके से व्यक्त करने के लिए किया जाता है। यह want to से ज्यादा सभ्य और polite होता है।

Examples (Willingness)

1. I would like to help you.
   मैं आपकी मदद करना चाहूँगा।

2. She would like to join the meeting.
   वह मीटिंग में शामिल होना चाहेगी।

3. We would like to work with you.
   हम आपके साथ काम करना चाहेंगे।

4. He would like to learn English.
   वह अंग्रेज़ी सीखना चाहेगा।

5. They would like to support this plan.
   वे इस योजना का समर्थन करना चाहेंगे।