'Would've' is the short form of 'would have'.

'Would've''Would've' is是 the short form of的縮寫 'would have''would have'。

We use it above all to talk about the past that did not happen — the imagined other version of events: "I would've called you, but my phone was dead." "She would've won if she hadn't fallen." It is the answer half of an if-sentence about the past, and it is normally followed by a past participle: would've gone, would've told, would've been.

We use it我們用它 above all最主要是 to talk about用來講 the past that did not happen沒有發生的過去——the imagined other version of events事情假想的另一個版本: 'I would've called you, but my phone was dead.'「I would've called you, but my phone was dead.」'She would've won if she hadn't fallen.'「She would've won if she hadn't fallen.」It is它是 the answer half of an if-sentence about the past關於過去的if句子裡「結果」的那一半, and而且 it is normally followed by通常後面接 a past participle過去分詞: would've gonewould've gone、would've toldwould've told、would've beenwould've been。

It also does a softer job — guessing about the past: "That would've been about 1998, I think." In speech, this contraction is not optional or lazy; it is what people actually say.

It also它還 does a softer job有一個比較柔和的用法 — guessing about the past用來猜測過去: 'That would've been about 1998, I think.'「That would've been about 1998, I think.」In speech在口語裡, this contraction is not optional or lazy這個縮寫不是可有可無或偷懶的講法; it is what people actually say這就是大家實際上會說的話。

Full 'would have' in conversation sounds heavy or emphatic, the way you say it when you are insisting: "I WOULD have told you." In writing, 'would've' is fine in messages, emails to friends, and dialogue, but in an essay or a formal report write 'would have' in full.

Full 'would have'完整的「would have」 in conversation在對話裡 sounds heavy or emphatic聽起來很重、很強調, the way you say it就像你...那樣說 when you are insisting堅持某件事時: 'I WOULD have told you.'「I WOULD have told you.」In writing在書寫上, 'would've' is fine「would've」都沒問題 in messages, emails to friends, and dialogue用在訊息、給朋友的email和對話裡, but但 in an essay or a formal report在論文或正式報告裡 write 'would have' in full要把「would have」寫完整。

The big thing to know is a sound problem that trips up native speakers too. Spoken fast, 'would've' sounds exactly like 'would of' — so people write "I would of gone", and it is always wrong. There is no verb 'of'.

The big thing to know要知道的重點 is是 a sound problem一個發音問題 that trips up native speakers too連母語者也會中招。Spoken fast唸快了, 'would've' sounds exactly like「would've」聽起來跟 'would of''would of' 一模一樣 — so people write所以有人會寫成 'I would of gone'「I would of gone」, and而且 it is always wrong這永遠是錯的。There is no verb英文根本沒有動詞 'of''of'。

The same trap catches could've/should've/must've.

The same trap同樣的陷阱 catches也會坑到 could've/should've/must'vecould've/should've/must've。

Test it by putting the sentence in the negative: if 'would not have' fits, then 'have' is your word.

Test it測試方法是 by putting the sentence in the negative把句子改成否定: if如果 'would not have' fits「would not have」講得通, then那 'have' is your word你要的字就是「have」。