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.)

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.

3. POLITE REQUESTS

–I would appreciate hearing from you soon.

(Would is frequently used with polite requests.)

Would can also be used in conditional sentences:

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

Examples of Using Would

• I thought I would never get back to Atlanta.