Would

[Sergeyan]

Hi.

Here is an extract from one npr report:

We would determine that they were
incompetent to stand trial. And we’d re-release
them back to the community - and kind of held
our breath and crossed our fingers and hoped
that somehow, they’d get better and come back,
and we could try them. But they would just
disappear and get re-arrested.

Can someone thoroughly explain to me why do we use WOULD in this sentence.
And what else can we use in a sentence like that.
And Why we can’t say, for example:
My car doesn’t start, but have to say My car won’t start?

Thanks.

[Mister_Micawber]

This is ‘would’ used for past habitual action. Less formally, you could also use ‘used to’: ‘We used to…’

Why we can’t say, for example: My car doesn’t start, but have to say My car won’t start?-- You can say both of those.

[Sergeyan]

Thank you very much for you quick reply.