he would wait

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he would wait" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a future intention or willingness to wait for someone or something. Example: "Despite the rain, he would wait for her at the bus stop until she arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then he would wait.

The New York Times

Burke said he would wait.

The New Yorker

He said he would wait.

The New York Times - Sports

He would wait a bit.

The New Yorker

Personally, he would wait a while longer.

The New York Times

He would wait at their bar.

The New Yorker

He would wait to see what the future would bring.

University of California, Berkeley

He would wait for the eggs, he said.

The New Yorker

Reyes said he would wait until after the season.

The New York Times - Sports

He would wait years, if necessary, he said wretchedly.

The New Yorker

He would wait until a less delicate moment.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he would wait" to describe a past intention or willingness to wait, often in narrative contexts. For example, "He knew it would take time, so he would wait patiently."

Common error

Avoid using "he would wait" when simply expressing a future action. If you're stating a general future event, "he will wait" is more appropriate. "He would wait" often implies a condition, a past habit, or a narrative context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he would wait" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a past intention, willingness, or conditional action. It's frequently used in narratives to describe a character's behavior. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he would wait" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase expressing past intention, willingness, or a conditional action, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register making it suitable for various communication styles. When using this phrase, consider the implied patience and deliberate choice to delay. Alternatives include "he was willing to wait" or "he chose to wait", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Be careful not to confuse it with "he will wait", which expresses a simple future action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was willing to wait

Emphasizes willingness and consent to wait.

he was prepared to wait

Highlights readiness and acceptance of the need to wait.

he chose to wait

Focuses on the decision-making aspect of waiting.

he decided to wait

Similar to 'chose to wait' but emphasizes a deliberate decision.

he was going to wait

Expresses a future intention to wait, similar to "he would wait".

he intended to wait

Stresses a planned or purposed action to wait.

he purposed to wait

Highlights a determined or resolved intention to wait.

he expected to wait

Suggests an anticipation or belief that waiting would be necessary.

he anticipated waiting

Focuses on foreseeing and preparing for a period of waiting.

he was in no hurry

Indicates a lack of urgency, implying a willingness to wait.

FAQs

How can I use "he would wait" in a sentence?

Use "he would wait" to express a past intention, a conditional action, or a typical behavior in the past. For example, "If she asked him, he would wait all night."

What's the difference between "he would wait" and "he will wait"?

"He will wait" expresses a future intention or a simple future event. "He would wait" often implies a past intention, a conditional situation, or a habitual action in the past.

Are there alternatives to "he would wait" that suggest more eagerness?

While "he would wait" implies patience, you could use phrases like "he was eager to wait" or "he was keen to wait" to convey more enthusiasm.

In what context is "he would wait" most appropriate?

The phrase "he would wait" is fitting in narrative writing when describing past behaviors or intentions. It's also suitable for expressing conditional scenarios, such as "He would wait if she asked him to".