would be sold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'would be sold' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a hypothetical event that could happen in the future. For example: "If the market conditions were advantageous, the property would be sold."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The actual stock would be sold later this year.

The New York Times

The old stadium would be sold off to developers.

The New York Times - Sports

There were rumours that Greyhound would be sold.

The Economist

From there, the contraband would be sold to distributors nationwide.

The New York Times

Not every event would be sold that way.

The New York Times

Some bits would be sold off, others would be closed.

The Economist

Its products would be sold across H.P. business, he said.

The New York Times - Tech

Toothpaste would be sold only for $1, never $1.25.

The New York Times

The environmental benefits would be sold as a bonus.

The New York Times

Nokia said the Booklet would be sold for €575.

The New York Times - Tech

Any surplus steam would be sold to Consolidated Edison.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would be sold", ensure the context clearly establishes the conditions or hypothetical situation that would lead to the sale. For example, "If the company fails to meet its targets, assets "would be sold".

Common error

Avoid using "would be sold" in both the 'if' clause and the main clause of a conditional sentence. Instead, use the simple past in the 'if' clause: Incorrect: 'If the product would be successful, it "would be sold" worldwide.' Correct: 'If the product were successful, it "would be sold" worldwide'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be sold" functions as a passive conditional verb phrase, indicating a hypothetical future action dependent on certain conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct. Examples in Ludwig show its use in news reports, academic contexts, and general discussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would be sold" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to express a conditional or hypothetical sale in the future. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides ample examples from reputable sources. It's crucial to ensure that the context clearly establishes the conditions leading to the sale and to avoid overuse in conditional sentences. Be aware of the subtle differences in meaning compared to similar phrases like "will be sold" or "is going to be sold". As Ludwig's examples demonstrate, "would be sold" is versatile and can be used across a range of writing styles, primarily in news, business, and general contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is expected to be sold

Changes the emphasis to expectation rather than a conditional scenario.

is likely to be sold

Indicates a high probability of a future sale.

could be sold

Expresses possibility rather than certainty.

might be sold

Similar to "could be sold", suggesting a lower probability.

is to be sold

Indicates a planned or scheduled sale.

will probably be sold

Combines future tense with an adverb of probability.

shall be sold

A more formal or legalistic way of expressing future sale.

is going to be sold

Informal way to describe the likelihood of a future sale.

is slated for sale

Emphasizes that something is officially scheduled for sale.

faces potential sale

Highlights the possibility of a sale due to circumstances or conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "would be sold" in a sentence?

Use "would be sold" to describe a hypothetical or conditional sale in the future. For example, "The house "would be sold" if we didn't pay the mortgage".

What are some alternatives to "would be sold"?

Alternatives include "is expected to be sold", "is likely to be sold", or "could be sold", depending on the context.

Is "would be sold" the same as "will be sold"?

"Would be sold" implies a conditional or hypothetical situation, while "will be sold" indicates a more definite future action. Use "would be sold" when the sale depends on certain conditions.

What's the difference between "would be sold" and "is going to be sold"?

"Would be sold" suggests a hypothetical scenario, while "is going to be sold" implies a plan or intention. "The car "would be sold" if I lost my job" (hypothetical), vs. "The car is going to be sold next week" (planned).