Grammar is the logic of speech, even as logic is the grammar of reason.
Richard Chenevix Trench
Like most modal verbs in English, the modal pair 'will' and 'would' are very old. They come from the Germanic language family; 'will' is a common verb in the German language, still today. The verb 'would' is the past tense of 'will', meaning that both of these verbs represent roughly the same concepts. Centuries ago as today, they mean: to wish, to desire, to be about to (do something), and to choose. However, will or would differ from other modal pairs in many important ways. You may already know that 'will' is used to build future tense verb phrases - "I will arrive this afternoon.", for example. Also unlike most other modal verb pairs in English, 'would' may be used to express conditional actions. "I would call him if I had his number.", for example. Modal verbs 'may' and 'might' share this property. However, 'will' and 'would' are unique in other respects. Today, Superprof outlines those differences before examining:
- How and why 'will' build every future tense construction
- How and why 'would' is used to form conditional statements
- How and when to use this modal pair, with examples
- Mistakes to avoid when using 'will' and 'would'
ESOL learners often struggle with modal verbs and their proper usage. That's nothing to worry about. So do native English speakers. This article means to clear up any confusion you might have.
Detailed Usage of ‘Will’
Have you ever wondered why 'will' builds future tenses? In this article's introduction, you read this verb's definitions. One of them, in particular, is the reason for 'will' being a part of every future tense construction. The meaning 'To be about to (do something)' gives this verb its expanded function. By itself, 'will' is the infinitive form of a verb, though it's seldom used that way.
The sentence: "He dreams up situations and wills them into being" is an example of such. In these cases, 'will' expresses one - or all three, of its other definitions. When used in this manner, speakers must conjugate the verb and apply tenses, when necessary. This construction looks like this in the past tense: "He dreamed up situations and willed them into being.". This is how to build such a sentence in the future tense: "He will dream up situations and will them into being."
Many students assume would is simply the past tense of will. While that is partly true, would has developed 'extra' meanings over time. Understanding intention and context matters more than memorizing rules.
Time Clause Conditions
You'll note that only the first verb is in the future tense in that last example. The second 'will' remains in its infinite form. ESOL learners strive to avoid verb tense mismatches, so they write or speak all of a sentence's verbs in the same tense. This mistake is common in a time clause / conditional clause construction. "I will come home after I will finish my exam" is incorrect. The future action is 'come home', so it must have the future tense construction. However, 'finish my exam' is an infinitive condition; it requires no conjugation. The correct sentence is: "I will come home after I finish my exam.". Here is a great explanative video on YouTube!
This rule is true for other time clause conditional sentences. "It will be nice to have a cup of tea when I get home"; not "... when I will get home." Even conditional clauses without a time marker are challenging. "We will not ride our bikes if it rains" is often written incorrectly: "... if it will rain.". Students must make the distinction between time clause conditions and instances of genuine verb tense mismatch. (They must also learn the proper ways to use 'must' and 'have to'!) "I wanted an apple, so I eat one" is a verb tense mismatch. "I will eat an apple when I feel like it" is a time clause condition; the verbs must not match.
As a modal verb, 'will' is used strictly to talk about the future.
As a modal verb, 'will' is used strictly to talk about the future. You may use it to describe future events: "I will take my English exam in two weeks". You might also use it with certain time clauses; specifically 'when', 'until', and 'after'. For example: "I will come home after my exams.". Most native English speakers prefer using the present tense to describe future events with time clauses. The sentence "I shall wait in class until my teacher comes" suggests the teacher's future arrival. No future tense construction is needed. Besides, this sentence would have a different tone if the speaker said: "I will wait in class until my teacher comes.".
In time clauses, English does not use the future tense even when the meaning refers to the future. The verb stays in the present form after words like when, after, until, and if.
Making Promises and Offers
One of the most common uses of will modal verb is to make promises or offers. When you say something using will, you are showing commitment or intention. For example, “I will help you study tonight” clearly communicates a promise. The speaker is taking responsibility for a future action. Offers also commonly use will. Sentences like “I will carry that for you” or “I will call the doctor” show willingness to act. In these cases, will sounds direct and confident, which is why it is often used in everyday conversation.
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Expressing Willingness and Decisions
Will modal verb is also used when decisions are made at the moment of speaking. If someone asks, “What do you want to eat?” and you reply, “I will have the pasta,” the decision is happening right then. This use of will helps show spontaneity. You can also use will to express willingness, especially when responding to a request. Saying “I will do it” emphasizes that you agree to take action. Because of this strong tone, will can sometimes sound firm or even forceful depending on the context.
Detailed Usage of ‘Would’
The modal 'will' has many uses; 'would' has even more. Let's say you've just finished watching a zombie apocalypse film. As you head to the kitchen for a snack, you might think or say: "If that were me, I would act like a zombie so they'd think I'm one of them!".
Hypothetical Situations and Conditionals
Would is essential for talking about imagined or unreal situations. It is commonly used in conditional sentences, especially those starting with if. For example, “I would travel more if I had the money” describes a situation that is not true right now. This use of would allows speakers to explore possibilities without claiming they will actually happen. It helps create distance between reality and imagination, which is why it is so common in advice, opinions, and speculative thinking.
The modal 'would' describes hypothetical conditions.
The modal 'would' describes hypothetical conditions. As you imagine a situation, 'would' helps you express your actions. Like 'will', it works with infinitive verbs. You should also use 'would' to build conditional sentences. "I would let you work with me, but I won't be in class that day." As we learned earlier, this construction is not a verb tense mismatch.
Politeness in Requests and Offers
In many cases, you may use either 'will' and 'would' to ask questions or make a request. However, their tones won't be the same. Consider this sentence pair:
"Will you open the window, please?" and "Would you open the window, please?"
Using will often sounds direct or demanding. Using would softens the request and sounds more polite, especially in formal or social situations.
The first sample sentence is more forceful; it sounds like an expectation rather than a request. By contrast, the second sentence offers a more modulated tone; it sounds more polite. We find examples such as these scattered throughout the English language. "Will you come around tomorrow?" sounds like begging. "Would you come around tomorrow?" gives the speaker something to look forward to. Imagine you're a server in a restaurant. As you take orders, would you rather hear "I will have the fish." or "I would like the fish, please."? Likewise, in a store: "Will you have that one?" or "Would you like that one?".
The modal 'would' should be (or shall be?) used to express preferences, make requests, and extend invitations. You may also use 'would' to describe the things you imagine happening and things you might do. If you want to give advice, use 'would' rather than 'will'. Consider this sentence pair: "Your teacher will help if you ask." puts a burden of expectation on the teacher. Furthermore, the speaker doesn't know if the teacher will help. Contrast that with "Your teacher would help if you ask.".
Now, the responsibility is on the person needing the help. You might think these guidelines are nothing more than semantics- that they put too much stress on the meaning and intent of words. In fact, these are important distinctions that help identify context. We now know that if someone uses 'will' to make a request, they may be frustrated, angry or rude. By contrast, someone who makes requests using 'would' is culturally aware and keen to follow social norms.
Describing Past Habits
Would can also describe repeated actions in the past, similar to used to. For example, “When we were kids, we would play outside every day” refers to a habit that no longer happens. In this case, would helps paint a picture of the past without focusing on exact time.
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Practical Usage Tips for 'Will' and 'Would'
This lesson's biggest takeaway is using 'would' to express conditions and to be polite. Before exploring this modal pair's practical applications, let's summarize all of these points.
| Usage | Will | Would |
|---|---|---|
| Talk about the futute | ✓ | |
| Talk about the past | ✓ | |
| Ask for something / make a request | ✓ | ✓✓ |
| To make promises | ✓ | |
| In conditional sentences | ✓ | ✓ |
| To be polite | ✓ | |
| To express a desire | ✓ | |
| To imagine a situation | ✓ |
Shortening 'Will'
ESOL learners work hard to master English pronunciation; they're very careful to speak every word clearly. As an ESOL teacher, I give them credit for that, even while recommending that they make exceptions. One such would be saying 'will' rather than using its contraction. Native English speakers only say 'will' for emphasis: "I WILL win against you in the game!", for example. In normal conversation, 'will' is reduced to ''ll'. Thus, "I will wait until it stops raining" becomes "I'll wait until (till) it stops raining." "You will love how easy it is to say these sentences" turns into "You'll love how easy it is ...". And "We will go to the park tomorrow" rolls off the tongue as "We'll go ...". These contractions are perfectly acceptable ways to use modal verbs in English. Unless your teacher is focusing on your pronunciation, you should use them in everyday conversation. You will sound more like a native speaker, that way.
Negating Will or Would
In English, adding 'not' is the standard form of negation. However, this too is typically used to add emphasis: "You will NOT touch my stuff!". In normal conversation, native speakers typically contract this word. Applying this contraction to 'would' is easy: it becomes 'wouldn't'. Negating 'will' doesn't follow the same pattern. The Old English word for 'will not' is 'wonnot'. That explains why 'will' becomes 'won't' when you negate it. Simply remove the 'no' from 'wonnot' and add the ''t', Then, you have this contraction right!
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Key Takeaways on Will Would
- ⏳ Will modal verb is mainly used for future plans, decisions, promises, and strong intentions
- 🤔 Would is used for conditional situations, polite requests, preferences, and imagined outcomes
- 🕒 Time clauses use the present tense, even when referring to the future
- 🎩 Would softens tone and sounds more polite than will in requests and offers
- 📢 Will can sound firm or direct, depending on context
- 💭 Would is common in advice and hypothetical statements
- 🔁 Would can describe repeated actions in the past
- 💬 Contractions like I’ll and wouldn’t sound more natural in spoken English
- ⚠️ Understanding tone helps avoid sounding rude or demanding
- 📘 Practice and context matter more than memorizing rules for will would
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