Would, Need, Used to

WOULD

Would and the conditional
Would + rather
Would + mind
Would + like

1. WOULD is used in conditional sentences:

Examples:
I would ask her if she was here.
They would have gone but it rained.

1.Would and the conditional

(See also The Conditional)

Examples:

Would + infinitive (without to)= Present Conditional.

a. If I had the money I would buy a large house.
b. They would visit us often if they didn't live in the country.

Would + have + past participle = Past Conditional.

c. I would have bought a large house if I had had the money.
d. She would have visited us if she had known that we lived here.

2.Would rather

I would rather (I'd rather) = I prefer (to)
Examples:

a. She'd rather go to Spain than to Italy this summer.
b. Peter would rather you didn't come to dinner tonight.
c. I'd rather live in a house than in a flat.

3.Would + mind

This is a polite form used to ask someone to do something for you or used to ask permission

Examples:

a. Would they mind visiting my mother for me?
b. Would James mind reading my essay?
c. Would you mind looking after my children tonight?
d. Would you mind if I left now?
e. Would they mind if I came with you?
f. Would you mind if I had another coffee?

4.Would + like

Would + like : expresses desire

It is also often used in polite forms

Examples:

a. Would you like something to drink?
b. She'd like some help, please.
c. Would they like to see a film?
d. I would like a ticket to London, please.
e. Would you like more tea?

NEED

Examples:

In the present : need + infinitive with to

a. They need to eat something.
b. She needs to see him immediately.

In past forms:

c. I needed the information yesterday.
d. He has needed to change his job for a long time.
e. They would have needed your help if you had been there.

In the future:

f. They will need your advice soon.
g. She is going to need more money.

USED TO

Used to: To talk about past habits.
There is no present form.

Examples :

a. I used to play football when I was a boy.
b. They used to live in Paris before the war.
c. She used to smoke but she stopped three years ago.