Using the past tense to talk about the future

Question

The thought recently came upon me that in the phrase "They told me it would be ready in the morning", the word "would" seems to act as a past participle of the word "will". This is difficult to translate as the Spanish language doesn't use this construction. However, we all learn that the word "would' is purely conditional.

I guess the basic question is: would I just use the conditional form (e.g. "Me dijeron que estaría listo por la mañana") or would I use a separate construction?

Thanks

Answer 1

You have two choices for the concept just like English:

Was going to- iba a (or iban a, or ibas a, etc.). (the imperfect of ir a)

Or would= conditional tense as you have surmised

From a native speaker (the question is actually about subjunctive.:

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/143554/can-the-conditional-be-used-in-subordinate-clauses

Hi ossen: the correct form is actually the same we use in English

Le prometí que repararía el coche.

Le prometí que iba a reparar el coche.

He promised that he would repair the car

He promised that he was going to repair the car.

I probably would have said in your sentence "para la mañana"- para here would convey a deadline.

Me dijeron que estaría listo para la mañana.

Me dijeron que iba a estar listo para la mañana.

agree - polenta1, Jun 19, 2017

Gracias, Polenta. :) - bosquederoble, Jun 19, 2017

Answer 2

English speakers (most of them anyway) are unaware of that little word "would" It serves as one of the functions of the Spanish Imperfect, and also serves as the "key" word in the English conditional that for the most part is used much like the Spanish conditional.

Here are a few examples of what I mean.

When we would go camping every year we would sit around the campfire and sing ranchera songs.

cuando acampábamos, nos sentábamos alrededor de la hoguera y cantábamos canciones rancheras

These are examples of "imperfect" would.

Here's the conditional would.

(a) as introduced by a subjunctive "condition contrary to fact"

Si tuviera más dinero iría de vacaciones a España.

If I had more money I would go a vacation to Spain.

(b) as introduced by a preterite. Me dijo que no iría de vacaciones este verano porque no tiene "los centavitos."

*He told me that he ** would not go** on vacation this summer because he doesn't have the cash.

I believe that Sir Ian calls "would" a "modal" verb. Please correct me on this if I'm wrong.

Answer 3

Would is used for conditional and also for the "past" of will. The other use I remember is to speak about a repeated action in the past, similar to "used to".

Example: When I was a girl I used to get up at 7 o'clock, I would take the bus and then I would have a break at 10.

This usage of "would" as a past repeated action isn't correct in Spanish but the other two are.