Level: beginner
We use will:
- to express beliefs about the present or future
- to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do
- to make promises, offers and requests.
would is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past tense, it is used:
- to talk about the past
- to talk about hypotheses (when we imagine something)
- for politeness.
Beliefs
We use will to express beliefs about the present or future:
John will be in his office. (present)
We'll be late. (future)
We will have to take the train. (future)
We use would as the past of will, to describe past beliefs about the future:
I thought we would be late, so we would have to take the train.
Willingness
We use will:
- to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do:
We'll see you tomorrow.
Perhaps Dad will lend me the car.
- to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often do (because we are willing to do them):
We always spend our holidays at our favourite hotel at the seaside. We'll get up early every morning and have a quick breakfast then we'll go across the road to the beach.
We use would as the past tense of will:
- to talk about what people wanted to do or were willing to do in the past:
We had a terrible night. The baby wouldn't go to sleep.
Dad wouldn't lend me the car, so we had to take the train.
- to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often did (because we were willing to do them) in the past:
When they were children they used to spend their holidays at their grandmother's at the seaside. They'd get up early every morning and have a quick breakfast. Then they'd run across the road to the beach.
Promises, offers and requests
We use I will or We will to make promises and offers:
I'll give you a lift home after the party.
We'll come and see you next week.
We use Will you … ? or Would you … ? to make requests:
Will you carry this for me, please?
Would you please be quiet?
- will and would 1
- will and would 2
- will and would 3
Level: intermediate
Hypotheses and conditionals
We use will in conditionals to say what we think will happen in the present or future:
I'll give her a call if I can find her number.
You won't get in unless you have a ticket.
We use would to make hypotheses:
- when we imagine a situation:
It would be very expensive to stay in a hotel.
I would give you a lift, but my wife has the car today.
- in conditionals:
I would give her a call if I could find her number.
If I had the money, I'd buy a new car.
You would lose weight if you took more exercise.
If he got a new job, he would probably make more money.
What if he lost his job? What would happen then?
We also use conditionals to give advice :
Dan will help you if you ask him.
Past tenses are more polite:
Dan would help you if you asked him.
- will and would: hypotheses and conditionals
See also: Verbs in time clauses and conditionals
Level: beginner
Expressions with would
We use:
- would you…, would you mind (not) -ing for requests:
Would you carry this for me, please?
Would you mind carrying this?
Would you mind not telling him until tomorrow?
- would you like ..., would you like to ... for offers and invitations:
Would you like another drink?
Would you like to come round tomorrow?
- I would like …, I'd like … (you)(to) ... to say what we want or what we want to do:
I'd like that one, please.
I'd like to go home now.
- I'd rather… (= I would rather) to say what we prefer:
I'd rather have the new one, not the old one.
I don't want another drink. I'd rather go home.
- I would think, I would imagine, I'd guess to give an opinion when we are not sure or when we want to be polite:
It's very difficult, I would imagine.
I would think that's the right answer.
- Expressions with would 1
- Expressions with would 2
Hello!
Could you please help me with the following:
1. The agreement was that we wouldn't work on Saturday. So, the date of the agreement hasn't expired yet, but it has been broken and they have already worked on Saturday. So, could you please clarify whether it has to be "will" or "would"?
2. In my childhood I would never think that I would admire this film. - Is this sentence correct? I'm a bit confused about the double usage of "would" in one sentence.
Thank you very much for your precious help and I'm very grateful for your answer to these questions beforehand!!!
Hello howtosay_,
1) The sentence is correct with 'would'. There are two ways to look at this, I think. One is that it's a 'future in the past' situation, where an agreement was made in the past regarding the future. Another way is to see it as speaking an unreal situation in the present or future -- it's unreal because the idea was that no work would be done on Saturday, but they've done some work on Saturday. So that workless Saturday is not real.
2) If I understand what is meant here, it should be 'In my childhood, I never would have thought that I would admire this film'. The thinking in the speaker's childhood is situated in an unreal past time, somewhat similar to a third conditional situation. We say 'would admire' because the thinking was in a past (unreal) time that refers to the future (which is now).
That's rather complex but I hope it helps!
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hi, which phrase is correct?
I would go if you went or I would go if you go . To express that I may go in the future to an event if someone may go too.
Thanks
Hello Farislearner,
If you don't think that you will really go -- for example, because it's very expensive or very difficult to actually go -- then you could say 'I'd go if you went' (not 'if you go').
But if it's something you can do but just aren't sure, it'd be better to say 'I'll go if you go'. For example, if there's a party but you're not sure you want to go to it, you could say this to your friend who is also invited.
Hope this helps.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Can't quite getting it.
Would mind explaining by comparing each sentence in my before comment please?
Hello again Paramesh09849,
Please look read through other users' comments on this page and our responses to them, and be sure to read back past the first page. We have answered essentially the same question many different times and I think you'd benefit from reading them.
After that, if it's still not clear to you, please tell us -- in detail -- what you think the difference is between two different sentences that are otherwise identical (except for the words 'will' or 'would'). Then we can better understand how you understand the forms and so better help you.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Could you tell me the difference?
I will never do that again or I would never do that again.
Why would I do that?or Why will I do that?.
What is the answer?or What would be the answer?.
I would say I am doing this for you or I will say I am doing this for you
Hello Paramesh09849,
There are many ways in which these sentences could be used. Taking one possible situation as an example, 'I will' could be a promise that you make at the moment of speaking. 'I would' speaks about a more hypothetical future situation; you imagine a situation and then say that in that situation you wouldn't do that again.
In the other sentences, 'would' expresses the idea that you're speaking about an imaginary situation. It doesn't have to be a fantasy, i.e. something very unlikely; it can be a perfectly possible normal situation, just that you're speaking about it as something possible, not as real. 'will' expresses a more straightforward situation that can be expected.
By the way, please do not post the same comment more than once. You might think this will speed up replies, but in fact it will slow down our responses not just for you, but for everyone.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
In this video you can learn about modals.
In this video you will learn about modals.
What's the difference between the two modals
in the above sentences?
Hello Paramesh09849,
Both sentences are possible.
Will is a prediction or a promise here. It tells us what the speaker (writer) believes or expects.
Can describes what is possible but not certain. It tells us that learning about modal is possible here if, for example, you work hard or if you do all the activities.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
https://youtu.be/... Would you mind watching the video and could tell me what are uses of "Would" in the above video link?
Hi Paramesh09849,
Our main purpose is to help learners with the explanations and exercises on our own pages. We try to help as much as we can with other questions too, but I'm afraid we cannot review other people's videos as it's simply too much for our small team. But if you have a specific question, feel free to ask it :)
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Wha is the "would " function in the below speech?
It is about a course which is divided into 3 different courses which is known as DADM1 and DADM2and DADM3.Each course would basically have an half an hour class so that would be running 5 classes in a week and it will continue for 60 such lectures.
Hi Paramesh09849,
"Would" shows that the future action is conditional on something else happening first (e.g. if the course is not yet confirmed to go ahead). However, it is unclear whether this is the situation or not in this example, since the writer/speaker uses "would" as well as "will" to describe the same course. The speaker may be using both "would" and "will" to refer to the future generally and perhaps does not intend an important difference between them. Without knowing the context in which this was said/written, we can't know the intended meaning for sure.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
What is the "Would" function in below speech? And why not "Will"?
"Each part is divided into three parts.Now in the first part ,second part,third part all would be of 30 hours each."
Hello Paramesh09849,
It's hard to say without knowing more about the context or speaker's intentions, but I agree that 'would' seems unusual here. Again, I don't really know what this means, but I'd probably just say 'are'. To be honest, the sentence doesn't sound very natural even with 'are', so I'd probably say something different.
Best regards,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Could you explain how "would" works in this dialogue. A asks B, B's response uses "would" in "would interpret."
A: Should I use the plural or the singular form of "book"? Or can it be only be singular?
"I went to the shop but they had none of the book(s) I wanted."
B: Use "books". You can use "none of" with a singular uncountable noun, and this, of course, is singular. But a countable noun has to be plural*. I would interpret "none of the book as "no part of the book."
Hello Selet,
Would is often used when giving opinions as a way of making our opinion sound less dogmatic. You can find it in many phrases for giving opinions:
> I'd say...
> If you asked me, I'd say...
> I'd go with option A.
> I wouldn't do that, to be honest.
> I'd be concerned about...
You can think about there being an implied if-clause here: ...if I were you / ...if I had to choose / ...if you asked me etc.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks for the response, Peter. What is confusing me is that sometimes native speakers of English don't use "would" in such a situation. For example
I take it to mean...
I would take it to mean...
I interpret "none of the book as...
I would interpret it as...
What is the difference between the form with "would" and the form without "would?"
Hello again Selet,
The form with 'would' is a little more tentative - not in terms of what the person thinks but in terms of politeness and of not wanting to impose their views on someone.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
What's the difference between " Why would you say that ?" and " Why did you say that?"
An example from the movie "Friends"
Chandler: You're turning into a woman
Joey: No I'm not. Why would you say that?
Thank you.
Hello histhisismy,
'Why did you say that?' would focus on a past statement. It could work here, though I think Joey would be more likely to say 'Why do you say that?' or 'Why would you say that?'.
The question with 'would' makes it sound as if Joey can't believe Chandler made this statement. It's kind of like a second conditional structure where the 'if' clause is omitted: 'If you were my friend, why would you say that?'
Hope this helps you make sense of it.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi there
Can u help me with that
Cross out one incorrect option
Those bags look heavy...........help u with it
A.Would I
B.Shall I
C.Will I
D.Can I
Hi Katerush,
I'm afraid we don't provide answers for tasks like this from elsewhere. If we did then we'd end up doing users' homework for them!
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
U got me wrong honestly
We were discussing this test with my friends
Based on some sourses in this tast there are 2 correct options
Soo we are so confused and wanted to ask from natives who knows better than us
It is not hometask by the way
Hello Katerush,
OK, thanks for letting us know. The two answers that work here are B and D. We can use 'shall' to offer to help and 'can' to ask for permission (though really here we're offering to help).
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi,
I would like to know if there is a difference between the following two sentences? And if there is, what is it?
Many animal species will mate for life. OR
Many animal species mate for life.
The first sentence is an example from English File advanced book. And second sentence is how I would say it.
All the best,
Kata
Hello Kata911,
There's a slight difference in meaning. In the first sentence, 'will' expresses certainty about the statement, whereas the present simple form expresses a simple general fact. In the end, the animal species behave the same; 'will' adds information about the speaker's attitude.
Another example of this use of 'will' is when we make a statement about something that we don't have direct evidence for, but are fairly certain about. For example, imagine that I was recently in the kitchen and saw my wife mixing ingredients for a cake and setting the oven to warm up. An hour later, I hear the oven timer ring. I could say 'That will mean the cake is done'. In this case, I haven't actually seen the cake in the oven, but given what I've observed, it seems to be a very likely explanation.
Hope that helps you make sense of it.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
Regarding the use of rather in: I'd rather (I would rather), to express preferences.
Is it wrong using: I´ll rather?
Thanks in advance
Hello disconzi,
Only 'would rather' is correct. 'will rather' is not correct.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks for the clarification, Kirk.
I'm confused which one should I say to my friend?
Man Utd will do well in the Champions league next season.
Man Utd would do well in the Champions league next season.
Hello Plokonyo,
Both sentences are grammatically possible so it depends what you want to say. If you are convinced Man Utd will qualify for the CL then the first sentence is the best choice. If you think it unlikely that Man Utd will qualify then the second is more likely.
Sentences like these often have an implied if-clause: if they qualify (first sentence) and if they qualified (second sentence).
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks, Peter. If I'm convinced Man Utd will qualify for the CL, where can we see the certainty from? We can't know what will in the future, they could not qualify. Their perfomance has gone off the boil.
Man Utd will do well in the Champions league (if you qualify)
Hello again Plokonyo,
I'm afraid I can't give you much insight as far as Man Utd's sporting chances go! As far as the grammar goes, it's all about how we see it, not necessarily how it really is. In sport, hope springs eternal, so fans will always have belief.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
How do you see/describe the situation of the possible outcome of a game that’s currently in progress? Do you use "will" or "would?"
46 mins: The game is back underway at Anfield. It will/would be a surprise if the game stays/stayed at 2-1, with both sides desperate for the three point.
Hello Plokonyo,
It depends on the speaker's point of view, but in the context of a sports commentator narrating a match, there's very little difference in meaning because half of the match remains to be played and it could go either way. A commentator would be more likely to use first conditional form when the outcome seems more certain and the other form when not, or when they want to remain a bit more detached. But objectively speaking, there's of course no difference as many things can still happen in a match at 46 minutes.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks, Kirk. So the second conditional is used to make the situation sound more detaiched from the commentator's view, right? If yes, it would be better to use the second conditional for a situation the outcome could change before the end of the game. Is my understanding right?
Hi Plokonyo,
Between the second and first conditional, the second conditional generally suggests more detachment. I'm not sure I'd say it's better to use a second conditional form given that the outcome could change, because a commentator isn't necessarily a detached observer. Their narrative needs to be objective, but that doesn't mean they don't have a preferred outcome.
Anyway, that's more a question of psychology than language, but I hope this helps.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Why we do not consider about arbitrariness of language? Will and would mostly used in arbitrary statements like - , Father will definitely give his car! and Perhaps, father would give his car! These two statements depend on the speaker's intention, and presumably outsiders cannot make suggestions!
Hello Sumith Jay,
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by 'arbitrary' statements, but it's certainly true that this page doesn't cover all the possible uses of 'will' and 'would'. Our grammar reference focuses on explaining what we believe to be the most essential aspects of English grammar, but there is of course much more.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
If you wake up early morning I would like to prepare breakfast for us.
Is the above sentence correct?
Hello Basanta Pradhan,
It's not really correct use 'early morning' this way. It's possible to use 'early morning' as a noun modifier (e.g. 'I really enjoy early morning runs'), but here an adverbial phrase such as 'early in the morning' is needed. There's also normally a comma between clauses in sentences beginning with 'if': 'If you wake up early in the morning, I would like to prepare breakfast for us.'
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Is it correct that "would" is used to give an opinion with a hypothetical situation?
Hello Selet,
Yes, it's possible to use 'would' to give an opinion about a hypothetical situation. I'd encourage you to come up with an example so that we can be sure we're talking about the same thing.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello sir. For example. This is what I would call annoying. Here is the speaker giving an opining with a hypothetical?
Hello Selet,
Yes, I'd say you are right. The speaker is explaining what they think by explaining what they'd say if someone asked them their opinion of the situation. In this way they express their opinion in a less direct way (though really it's not very indirect!).
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi Kirk and Jonathan,
The guy on the phone has a Southern accent. " That would be Tom".
Is this hypothetical? Or is this same as
"That may/might/could be Tom" as we say
for Possibility?
Hi jitu_jaga,
'Would' here is used to mean 'I expect...'. In other words, it's a little different from may/might/could, which express possibility.
When a person says 'that would be...' (or, more strongly, 'that will be...') they are telling you that they are quite sure about the situation, and will be surprised if they are wrong.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi peter,
Still i don't understand. Can i think it as a
2nd conditional sentence? How to differentiate if it is a 2nd conditional or expectation as you said above when there is
no if clause.
Eg. How about going for a picnic? It would be fine.
Here, i should understand it as an expectaion or 2nd conditional sentence as
no if clause is given.