What is the difference between will and would in English language?

Here you can find out what is the difference between will and would in English.

In order to understand the difference between these two words, it is enough to know when they are used. Then you can compare when to use will or would and understand the difference.

1. Firstly, it should be remembered that these words perform the function of auxiliary verbs in different times. This is their first difference.

Will is an auxiliary verb for the tense Future Indefinite.
I will go there - I will go there.

Would is an auxiliary verb for the tense Future Indefinite in the Past Tense (future indefinite in the past).

2. The second difference is the use in conditional sentences. As you know, there are several types of conditional sentences in English. In the first type (real feasible assumptions) will is used in the main clause, and in the second type (incredible or unlikely assumptions) would is used in the main clause.

If you send me flowers I will call you - If you send me flowers, I will call you (first type).
If I knew your address I would come to you - If I knew your address, I would come to you (second type).

3. It should be remembered that would replaces will according to the rule of tense agreement. For example, in indirect speech.

Mary asked me whether I would do it for her - Mary asked me if I would do this for her.

4. Would, in contrast to will, expresses the particle would, for example, in conditional sentences.

If I knew your address I would come to you - If I knew your address, I would come to you.

5. Will and would can be used to express a request, but would expresses a more polite request, and in this sense its use is more preferable.

Would you please help us - Could you please help us.

Modal verb ‘ would ’ is quite common in English. It is usually followed byinfinitivewithoutparticlesto.

It would be nice to spend a holiday by the sea.

It would be great to spend a holiday on the coast.

In colloquial speech or informal writing would is declining to "d":

I"d like a cup if coffee.

I'd like a cup of coffee.

The modal verb 'would' has no tenses and never changes its form. Question with the modal verb would is formed by placing it before the subject, like a regular auxiliary verb:

Would you like a cup of coffee?

Would you like a cup of coffee?

Negation is formed by adding the particle not to the verb and most often is declining to wouldn't .

We wouldn't want to live in this place.

We wouldn't want to live in this place.

Let's look at the main cases of use would.

To denote the so-called "future in the past"(Future in the Past), that is, what was expected, planned or promised in the future.

She thought she would never see him again.

She thought she would never see him again.

For description hypothetical situation in the present tense, which is unlikely.

I"d love to live in Paris.

I would like to live in Paris.

For description hypothetical situation in the past used would have + Past Participle (in conditional sentences of the 3rd type)

If we had known they were coming, we would have booked a room for them.

If we had known they were coming, we would have booked a room for them.

Here you can take a lesson on the topic: Future tense and the verb "will" in English. Future Simple Tense and "will".

In English there are several ways to express actions in the future tense. So, for example, with the help of the phrase to be going to (plans and intentions), or with the help of tenses Present Continuous(pre-planned events) and Present Simple(schedules and programs).

However, the most important and meaningful way of expressing the future simple tense in English is the short word will, which is simultaneously future form the verb to be, and one of the modal verbs.

The form of the verb will is quite simple, since it does not vary in numbers or persons, and is used with the usual infinitive. The meaning of the word will is more complex, which we will look at in this lesson, along with its use in various sentences and some distinctive features.

I. The first thing you should familiarize yourself with is conjugation verb will in affirmative, negative and interrogative form, using personal pronouns as an example. pay attention to possible reductions.

1. Below is the conjugation in affirmative, negative and interrogative forms:

(+)
I will (I"ll) - I will
You will (You"ll) - You will / You will
He will (He"ll) - He will
She will (She"ll) - She will
It will (It"ll) - He/She will (inanimate)
We will (We"ll) - We will
They will (They"ll) - They will

(-)
I will not (I won't) - I won't
You will not (You won't) - You won't / You won't
He will not (He won't) - He won't
She will not (She won't) - She won't
It will not (It won't) - He/She will not (inanimate)
We will not (We won't) - We won't
They will not (They won't) - They won't

(?)
Will I..? - Will I be..?
Will you..? - Will you..? / Will you..?
Will he..? - Will he..?
Will she..? - Will she..?
Will it..? - Will he/she..? (inanimate)
Will we..? - Will we..?
Will they..? - Will they..?

As can be seen from the examples, will does not change in any way, and this is quite convenient when composing sentences. The only noticeable changes are visible in the shortened negative form - won"t /"wəunt/.

2. Due to the fact that the verb will belongs to the modal group, he obeys many of the rules of this particular group. For example, after all modal verbs (except have to and need to) in sentences follows the infinitive(original form of the verb). For example:

He will call you tomorrow. - He will call you tomorrow.
I won't tell you her secret. - I won't tell you her secret.
Will she be back by next Sunday? -Yes, she will.
-No, she won't. - Will she be back by next Sunday? - Yes. - No.

Where will you stay during your holiday? - Where will you stay during your vacation? As can be seen from the examples, marker words are often used in the simple future tense: tomorrow, next week, next month, in the future

The examples also show several features of interrogative sentences with the word will. First of all, these are short answers to general issues, which are mandatory repeat the verb will in affirmative and negative form. And the second feature is the ability to build special questions in the simple future tense with any question words (what, where, why, when, etc.) that are placed at the very beginning of the sentence.

II. The future tense verb will has many meanings. Let's consider each of them separately.

1. First of all, will, in contrast to the phrase to be going to, expresses spontaneous unplanned actions in the future. For example:

Fine, I"ll let you know when I"m free. - Okay, I'll let you know when I'm free.
- The phone is ringing. - I "ll answer it. - The phone rings. - I will answer.
I think, he will never call again. - I don't think he'll ever call again.

From the examples it is clear that these phrases express unplanned thoughts, i.e. that the speaker did not plan them in advance, but just decided. The last example also clearly demonstrates that instead of the particle not, the word never can be used to give a sentence a negative connotation.

2. The word will is often used in offers - promises. For example:

I will never leave you. - I'll never leave you.
It won't hurt, I promise. - It won't hurt, I promise.

3. Will is also used to express actions in the future that are inevitable. For example:

He will be far away at this time tomorrow. - He will be very far away by this time tomorrow.
I will turn 30 next September. - I will turn 30 next September.

4. One of the common uses of the word will is confident future forecasts and predictions. For example:

This card says that you"ll be happy with him. - This card says that you will be happy with him.
The weather won't change tomorrow. - The weather won't change tomorrow.

5. B the main part of conditional sentences of the first type the verb will is also often used. For example:

If it rains. I"ll wear a raincoat. - If it rains, I will put on a raincoat.
If you come with us, we"ll book a larger table. - If you come with us, we will reserve a larger table.

6. Will is also often used to express probable actions in future with expressions:
I think.., I hope.., I"m sure.., I"m afraid.., I promise.., possibly, probably, and some others. For example:

I think she will pass this exam. - I think she will pass this exam.
I promise that I"ll help you with your home task. - I promise I will help you with your homework.
I"m sure they"ll win. - I'm sure they will win.
I"m afraid he won"t come. - I'm afraid he won't come.
It"ll probably rain tonight. - It might rain tonight.
He'll possibly win this fight. - Perhaps he will win this fight.

III. In addition to the verb will, the modal verb shall is sometimes used to express the future simple tense. This is especially applicable to questions with shades of request (Request) or proposal

(Offer). For example:
Shall we dance? - Shall we dance?
Shall I make you some coffee? - Shall I make you some coffee?

Shall I see you tomorrow? - Will we see you tomorrow? It is believed that in British English shall used in conventional affirmative sentences

with the first person (I shall, We shall), however, these are slightly outdated expressions. Quite often the future simple tense with the verbs will and shall is used in For example:

English sayings.
Broken friendship may be soldered, but will never be sound. - A cracked friendship can be mended, but it will never be strong again.
No herb will cure love. - Love cannot be cured by any potions.
He that will eat the kernel must crack the nut. - Anyone who wants to eat nuts must crack them. / If you don’t crack the nut, you won’t eat the kernel.
We shall see what we shall see. - We'll see about that later./ It depends on how you look at it.
Many words will not fill a bushel. - You can’t fill a vessel with many words. / You won’t be full of conversations.
If the sky falls, we shall catch larks. - If the sky falls, we will catch larks./ If only, if only.
Hawks will not pick hawks" eyes. - A hawk will not peck out a hawk's eyes.
Not that will not when he may, when he will he shall have nay. - He who doesn’t want to when he can, won’t be able to when he wants to.

As the tree falls, so shall it lie. - As the tree falls, so will it lie./Where the tree leaned, that’s where it fell.

Thus, we became familiar with the future tense in English, as well as with the verbs of the future: will and shall. In addition, we looked at the form and place of the verb will in sentences, plus its many meanings. For a small charge, try to translate

the following sentences in English:
I think he will like this gift.
The weather will change for the better next week.
He promised that he would call me.
Can I help you with these heavy bags?
Can you help me?
If it's cold, I'll put on my warm coat.
I'm sure this team will win.
She probably won't come.
I'm afraid this won't help.
Where should we celebrate this Christmas?

) is an insufficient verb, since it is used only in two forms: in the past tense - would and in the present tense - will. The main verb behind the insufficient verb and expressing some action is used in an indefinite form, but without a particle to.
Verb would used as an auxiliary verb in combination with to form forms and as a form. In some cases would has a modal meaning.

Examples: How did you know that I would come to this office today? - How did you know that I would come to this office today?
She said she wouldn't speak to Andrew unless he apologized for being rude. “She said she wouldn’t talk to Andrew until he apologized for being rude.”

The verb would as an auxiliary verb

1. Verb would used in conjunction with the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural to form the future tense in the past, i.e. forms Future in the Past.

Examples: I told Michael I would do it but he didn’t listen to me. “I told Michael I would do it, but he didn’t listen to me.”
Didn't I tell you I would go shopping today? “Didn’t I tell you that I was going to go shopping today?”

2. Verb would used as an auxiliary verb with the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural to form the subjunctive forms used in the main part.

Examples: She would call back if she had enough time. “She would have called back if she had more time.”
He would have been here in the morning if the train had not been late. “He would have been here in the morning if the train hadn’t been late.”

In the same time would often used with 1st person instead should. This trend is typical for modern English, especially in the USA.

Verb would with modal meaning

3. Verb would used as a modal verb with all singular and plural persons in negative sentences to express persistent reluctance to perform actions in the past. Wouldn't = wouldn't didn't want/didn't want.

Examples: I asked him to do it, but he would not listen to me. “I asked him to do it, but he didn’t want to listen to me.”
The doctor told her take a medicine twice a day, but she would not listen to him. The doctor told her to take the medicine twice a day, but she did not want to listen to him.

4. Verb would used to express a request.

Examples:Would you mind turning on the light. - Please turn on the light.
Would you mind watering my flowers? – Could you water my flowers?
Would you please pass me my purse? – Could you pass my bag, please?

5. Verb would used with all singular and plural persons to express a repeated action in the past. Would, in this case, is translated as it happened.

Examples: On hot summer days we would take a boat and go up the river. - In hot weather summer days we used to take a boat and go up the river.
He would come to us and ( would) talk to my sister Allis for hours. “He used to come over and talk to my sister Ellis for hours.

Please note that in given value verb would similar in meaning to the design used to. But, the construction used to is used more often in colloquial speech, and would on the letter.

It is no secret that some modal verbs, distinguished by specific meanings and forms, developed from other modals, acquiring the status of independent ones. A striking example is the pair shall -, where the second verb, originally used instead of shall in the past tense, has become a full-fledged modal word with individual characteristics. The same applies to such a grammatical structure as the modal verb would. Its use has always been typical in Past instead of will, but over time it has become a full-fledged modal with some special functions unique to it. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what basic meanings this verb has, what is its difference with will, give examples of sentences with would, and also show in what grammatical constructions this word is used.

Main characteristics of a modal verb

Would in English has the same characteristics as most other modals. It does not show an action, but reflects an attitude towards it, cannot have an ending –s after it, is always used with an infinitive, etc. However, it also has one more important feature: in the language it can be used not only as a modal, but also as an auxiliary verb, which may be even more common.

For situations where it acts as an auxiliary verb, the translation rule usually provides for the particle “would”. This is why we so often use this verb in situations where the action is associated with unreality and some kind of fantasy or fiction. This is what it looks like:

• I would be Grateful to you if you helped with this issue– I would be grateful if you could help me with this question
• I wish you would come on time, don’ t be late- I would like you to come on time, don’t be late

Will and would, as we know, were never “pure” modals and were almost always included in various grammatical structures (especially in the tenses of the Future category). Would is often used as a substitute for will in situations that require tense agreement. In addition, its use is very typical in such an area as the subjunctive mood, where it is also a very common auxiliary verb.

Interrogative sentences

In questions, this verb is used in accordance with the rules of modal verbs, when the modal has the right to independently form this type of sentence. So, it comes first, followed by the subjects, then the predicate, and then the rest of the structure. In the event that the question is special, that is, it contains special question word, modal will naturally come after it. For example:

• Would I solve this problem if were not for certain circumstances? – Would I have solved this problem if not for certain circumstances?
• What would you do if she asked you about that Friday? – What would you do if she asked you about that Friday?

Negations and short form

For negation, you do not need to use anything new - the same particle not, characteristic of any modals. In addition, with this verb the shortened form – wouldn’t – is easily formed. Transcription of both British and American English provides the same pronunciation of would in short form with negation: the word is pronounced [ˈwʊd(ə)nt]:

• She wouldn't ’ t participate in this game unless you explain her all the rules– She won’t take part in this game unless you explain all the rules to her.

Methods of transmitting different tenses

Grammar allows the use of a verb in different tenses and situations. So, it was already mentioned a little earlier that this form often serves to coordinate times when it is impossible to use will, for example, he said he would be able to, etc. It is also permissible to form with it long time, using , or previous action through . Situations may be different: the verb found its application in subjunctive mood, being one of the most popular auxiliary verbs:

• If I were you I would immediately leave this house –On yours place I would immediately left this house
• Would you mind if opened the window a little wider? “Would you mind if I opened the window a little wider?”

Note: the translation of would you mind has only one meaning: “do you mind? won't you mind?" Abbreviated forms are not used here.

Differences between will and would in meaning

Despite the independent status of would as a modal verb, most of its functions overlap with the meanings of will. As a rule, the main difference lies precisely in the temporal form, when it becomes necessary to shift time back one step.

• 1. So, it also has the meaning “will, desire.” The main difference is the frequent use in negative sentences (the abbreviation is also relevant here):

He was in a hurry and wouldn't ’ t tell me anything“He was in a hurry and didn’t want to tell me anything.”

• 2. Both verbs have the meaning of a polite offer or request. If we compare these functions of the two modals, we can note that with would the situation takes on an even greater degree of politeness and courtesy:

Would you be so kind to pass me the kettle? – Could you be so kind as to pass me the teapot?

• 3. Persistence on something. If with will the situation belonged to the present or future tense, then with would it will be Past, again, as a rule, due to the Sequence of Tenses:

He was at a loss, but he would try to make an excuse –He was confused, But All equals had tried apologize

Would does not have a prediction function, and this is quite obvious and logical: any forecast is made for the future and is not used with the past tense.

Special designs

In addition to the above uses, this modal is also part of several other structures. Thus, the construction would rather (synonymous with had better) is translated as “it would be better, it would be worth it” and is a condition for the bare Infinitive (without to):

I would rather go with you than stay here alone- I would rather go with you than stay here alone

A stable expression is the phrase would like, which translates as “I would like”:

I would like to visit as many places as possible –To me would I wanted visit How Can more places

All these features of the modal verb would allow us to call it unique and special in its own way. The use of this modal in speech is very popular, and in order not to confuse it with other words, it is necessary to carefully study its functions and areas of use. Only in this case will the correctness of its use be justified and logical.