would
1 modal verb saying what is or was true in particular circumstancesthat would be great bheadh sé sin go hiontach, b'iontach é sinI wouldn't recognise him ní aithneoinn éwho ever would have thought of it? cé a chuimhneodh riamh air?who would have believed it? cé a chreidfeadh é? 2 modal verb expressing opinion with 'will', in pastI never thought it would succeed níor shíl mé riamh go n-éireodh leishe said he wouldn't have done it had he known dúirt sé nach ndéanfadh sé é dá mbeadh a fhios aigeShow full entry
3 modal verb expressing intention with 'will', in pastshe said she'd come with me dúirt sí go dtiocfadh sí liomthey decided they'd build a house chinn siad go dtógfaidís teach, shocraigh siad teach a thógáilyou promised you'd call me gheall tú go nglaofá orm 4 modal verb expressing willingnessI'd go anywhere to see a game rachainn áit ar bith le cluiche a fheiceáil, bheinn sásta dul aon áit chun cluiche a fheiceáilI'd been trying to tell you but you wouldn't listen bhí mé ag iarraidh a rá leat ach ní éistfeá liomhe agreed that he'd make a contribution d'aontaigh sé go dtabharfadh sé síntiús 5 modal verb expressing opinion less directlyI've been foolish but I wouldn't change anything bhí mé amaideach ach ní athróinn dadaI would say there were about a hundre people there déarfainn go raibh timpeall céad duine annno, I wouldn't say that ní déarfainn é sin 6 modal verb expressing malfunctionthe car wouldn't start ní thosódh an carr 7 modal verb describing past practice, habitshe'd go out walking every morning théadh sí amach ag siúl gach maidin, ba ghnách léi dul amach ag siúl gach maidinthe shop would only open two nights a week ní osclaítí an siopa ach dhá oíche sa tseachtain, níor ghnách leis an siopa a bheith ar oscailt ach dhá oíche sa tseachtainsome would get up early d'éiríodh cuid acu go moch, bhíodh cuid acu ina suí go luath 8 modal verb saying what happened after point in past
► (verb in past tense)
after leaving college she would go on to be a teacher tar éis di an coláiste a fhágáil, chuaigh sí leis an múinteoireacht; i ndiaidh í an coláiste a fhágáil, rinneadh múinteoir dithis was the routine we'd get used to ba é sin an gnáthamh a ndeachamar i dtaithí air 9 modal verb in hypothetical conditions, with 'if'I would do it if I had the time dhéanfainn é dá mbeadh an t-am agamif I won the lottery, I'd buy a huge house dá mbuafainn an crannchur, cheannóinn teach ollmhórI wouldn't be surprised if they left ní chuirfeadh sé iontas orm dá n-imeoidís, ní chuirfeadh sé iontas orm iad imeacht 10 modal verb expressing feelingsif you have photos it'd be nice to see them má tá grianghraif agat ba dheas iad a fheiceáilI wish he'd shut up nach trua nach n-éistfeadh sé a bhéal, is mairg nach ndúnfadh sé a chlabif you'd prefer to send us an email, please do so dá mb'fhearr leat r-phost a chur chugainn, déan amhlaidh agus fáilteshe wouldn't have wanted that níorbh in a bheadh uaithi, ní hin é an rud a bheadh sí a iarraidh 11 modal verb expressing offer, invitationwould you care for a drink? ar mhaith leat deoch?, an mbeidh deoch agat?would you like to have a go on my bike? ar mhaith leat geábh ar mo rothar?, an bhfuil tú ag iarraidh seal a bheith agat ar mo rothar? 12 modal verb making polite requestwould you help me lift this? an gcuideofá liom é seo a thógáil?, ar mhiste leat cabhrú liom é seo a ardú?would you put on the kettle, please? ar mhiste leat an citeal a chur síos, más é do thoil é?; cuir síos an citeal, le do thoilwould it be all right to visit him? an mbeadh sé ceart go leor cuairt a thabhairt air? 13 modal verb giving adviceI wouldn't open that door ní osclóinn an doras sin, mholfainn duit gan an doras sin a oscailt