English grammar lesson #3 - would & would have as modal verbs

do you think advanced English grammar is difficult?

if you do, it’s because nobody has taught it to you this way before.

let’s talk about a pair of modal verbs that confuses even advanced English learners: “would” and “would have.”

these little words are used A LOT in both casual and formal English, and once you master them, your conversations and writing will feel so much more natural.

this lesson is perfect for you if you’ve ever hesitated to use these forms—or if you’ve caught yourself avoiding them because you weren’t 100% confident about when they’re correct.

SHORTCUT

▶️if you want to, you can watch this lesson as a 2-minute video

if you prefer reading, scroll down👇

grammar lesson #3

"would" and "would have" unlock natural english

understanding these uses—refusal, missed possibilities, and past assumptions—makes "would" and "would have" some of the most versatile tools in English.

they help you add nuance, express regret, or make educated guesses about the past.

plus, they let you sound more confident and fluent because native speakers rely on these forms all the time.

take 2 minutes to watch and start practicing.

in my next post, I’ll share another grammar video with you.

"would" in the past: unwillingness

have you ever heard someone say, "He wouldn’t do it," and wondered why they didn’t just say "He didn’t do it"?

the difference is subtle but important: "wouldn’t" highlights that the person refused or was unwilling to take the action. For instance:

"She got angry because he wouldn’t turn off the TV."
→ He didn’t turn off the TV because he refused to, and that’s why she got upset.

when you use "wouldn’t" in this way, you’re not just describing what happened—you’re giving the extra detail that someone didn’t want to do something.

"would have" for missed possibilities

let’s talk about "would have" now. This is a way to reflect on what could have happened in the past, but didn’t.

"I would’ve accepted that job, but I didn’t want to move house."
→ The job offer existed, and I might have taken it, but the thought of moving changed my mind.

whenever you use "would have," you’re imagining a different version of the past—one that didn’t come true.

"would have" for assumptions about the past

here’s another clever use of "would have": making assumptions about something that already happened.

"Someone called for you but didn’t leave a message." You can respond:

"That would’ve been my mom."
→ You’re guessing based on the context, and "would’ve" helps show this assumption.

this is similar to how we use "will" for present assumptions:

"That will be the postman."
(Right now, you hear the doorbell and assume it’s the postman.)

but when we shift this to the past, "would have" steps in:

"That would’ve been the postman."
(You’re guessing about what already happened.)

Pro Tip

modal verbs are often subtle, but mastering them is a game-changer for how natural you sound in English.
practice using "would" and "would have" in real-life contexts:

"I would’ve helped you, but I didn’t know you needed anything."
"He wouldn’t share his notes with me. It was so frustrating."
"That would’ve been such a great opportunity for you."

try slipping them into your conversations this week, and watch how much smoother your English becomes!

I took this free video lesson from my Advanced Grammar University course.

Now, you can choose individual modules from my Advanced Grammar University course based on what you need most to improve, and join just those specific modules.

You’re also free to join multiple modules without committing to the entire course, although the full course option will still be available if you want to dive into everything.

I created this option so you can focus on the areas of English that matter most to you, skipping over what you’re already confident in.