modal word - would

[Unregistered Japanese]

This forum is conducive to my learning English.
I copied the following dialogue from my English textbook.

Hiro: Don't tell anyone what I said to you.
Yuko: I would never do it.

I wonder why the word "would" is used instead of "will".

"will" should be used because of the time reference of the dialogue is present tense which is understood from "tell". So, Yuko promises she will not tell anyone about it from now on.


Domo arigato = thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

This forum is conducive to my learning English.
I copied the following dialogue from my English textbook.

Hiro: Don't tell anyone what I said to you.
Yuko: I would never do it.

I wonder why the word "would" is used instead of "will".

"will" should be used because of the time reference of the dialogue is present tense which is understood from "tell". So, Yuko promises she will not tell anyone about it from now on.


Domo arigato = thanks.

"Would" is also correct.

 

[mmasny]

Hello Unregistered Japanese.
I think 'would' is used because there's a hidden conditional here.
I would never do it, even if you hadn't told me that.

I am not a teacher.

 

[anishjp]

Don't tell anyone what I said to you.

Hi,

Is that a standard English usage?.

Regards,
Anish

 

[Barb_D]

Hi,

Is that a standard English usage?.

Regards,
Anish

What part? "Don't tell anyone what I said"? That's fine.

 

[billmcd]

Yes. I agree w/mmasny. "Would never" in this example implies "never under any condition or circumstance".

 

[Tdol]

I think it also widens it to show that the person can always keep a secret and not only on this occasion.