Question

Perhaps it would be better to go and see what the gardens were like. 这里的would，难道表示过去式？

Perhaps it would be better to go and see what the gardens were like. 这里的would，难道表示过去式？
还是说，这里的would不代表时态？
谢谢

Answer 1

只要注意到后面的宾语从句的谓语动词用的是过去式were，就知道前面的would是will的过去式。

如果把句子It would be better to go and see what the gardens were like.与它对应的现在时态形式It will be better to go and see what the gardens are like相对比，也能看出would是will的过去式。

值得注意的是，句子的上述现在时态形式只是在陈述事实，并不涉及语气虚拟或婉转，当然原句作为其对应的过去时态形式也一样。

Answer 2

这里的would不代表过去时，我觉得代表一种假设的语气。

Answer 3

Would 有非常多的用处，既可以描述过去，也可以描述现在和将来。 这里是 可能的意思。可能在英语里有很多级别， will would could should may might 这些都是可能。 Will 和 would 肯定程度很高。

Answer 4

从句子的后半截可以判断，would可能就是过去将来时。
但是如果有此句的上下文，就能更好地判断would的用法，看它有没有虚拟假设的意思。