What type of speech is would?

"Would" is a modal auxiliary verb. It's not a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb on its own.

Here's why:

* It helps other verbs: "Would" works with another verb to express different shades of meaning, like:

* Polite requests: "Would you please pass the salt?"

* Past possibility: "I would have gone, but I was sick."

* Hypothetical situations: "If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world."

* It doesn't act alone: "Would" doesn't stand alone as a complete verb. You always need another verb with it.

Let me know if you have any other words you want to categorize!