The Difference Between Would, Could, and Should

:thought_balloon:Would is used to talk about unreal situations in the present or past, could expresses possibilities in the present, and should is used to give advice or express obligation.

:speech_balloon:When using would or could, contraction is commonly applied, such as using I'd instead of I would or he'd instead of he would.

:question:Would and could can also be used to report past intentions or express past ability, while should is used to indicate the correct or recommended course of action.

:arrow_right:In unreal situations in the present, would is often used with if statements, such as 'If I were you, I would go to the doctor.'

:closed_lock_with_key:When using would or could in the past tense, 'have' is added before the past participle of the main verb, such as 'If I had known, I could have helped you.'

What is the difference between would and could?

—Would is typically used to talk about unreal situations in the present or past, while could expresses possibilities in the present.

When should I use should?

—Should is used when giving advice or expressing obligation. It indicates the correct or recommended course of action.

Can would and could be used in reporting past intentions?

—Yes, would and could can be used to report past intentions or express past abilities.

How do I form the past tense of would and could?

—To form the past tense of would and could, 'have' is added before the past participle of the main verb.

Can should be used to indicate past obligations?

—No, should is used to indicate obligations or recommendations in the present or future, not the past.

00:00The video discusses the differences between the words would, could, and should.

03:59Would is used to talk about unreal situations in the present, such as hypothetical scenarios. Could is used to express possibilities in the present.

09:30Would can also be used to report past intentions or express past abilities.

13:40Should is used to give advice or express recommendations, indicating the correct or recommended course of action.

19:59When using would or could in the past tense, 'have' is added before the past participle of the main verb.