Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > General Language Discussions

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 29-Jul-2004, 00:01
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Country: Canada
Posts: 160
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
gonghai is an unknown quantity at this point
Default the awful will and would

usually will in a sentence represent future?
and would represent past or present?
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 29-Jul-2004, 03:03
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China
First Language: English
Member Type: Other
Thanks: 0
Thanked 45 Times in 44 Posts
Casiopea is on a distinguished road
Default Re: the awful will and would

Quote:
Originally Posted by gonghai
usually will in a sentence represent future?
and would represent past or present?
will can express willingness, intention, and prediction.

would can express willingness, insistence, customary, hypothetical, and probability

Quote:
Originally Posted by ccc.commnet
Uses of Will and Would
In certain contexts, will and would are virtually interchangeable, but there are differences. Notice that the contracted form 'll is very frequently used for will.

Will can be used to express willingness:

I'll wash the dishes if you dry.
We're going to the movies. Will you join us?
It can also express intention (especially in the first person):
I'll do my exercises later on.

and prediction:

specific: The meeting will be over soon.
timeless: Humidity will ruin my hairdo.
habitual: The river will overflow its banks every spring.

Would can also be used to express willingness:

Would you please take off your hat?
It can also express insistence (rather rare, and with a strong stress on the word "would"):

Now you've ruined everything. You would act that way.

and characteristic activity:

customary: After work, he would walk to his home in West Hartford.
typical (casual): She would cause the whole family to be late, every time.
In a main clause, would can express a hypothetical meaning:

My cocker spaniel would weigh a ton if I let her eat what she wants.
Finally, would can express a sense of probability:

I hear a whistle. That would be the five o'clock train.

SOURCE
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 29-Jul-2004, 07:59
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,460
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 437 Times in 392 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default

'Would'can also be used for past habits, like 'used to', but only for actions:

When he was younger, he would walk to schoolevery day.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 29-Jul-2004, 09:14
milky
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: the awful will and would

Quote:
Originally Posted by gonghai
usually will in a sentence represent future?
and would represent past or present?
What do you think of:

1. They will have arrived by now.

2. If you are gong to see him next week, I would like to come with you.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 29-Jul-2004, 10:49
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,370
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Francois is an unknown quantity at this point
Default

Both are ok, though the 1st one seems to be BE only (Cf. your other thread on that topic).

FRC
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 29-Jul-2004, 19:23
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,460
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 437 Times in 392 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default

It does seem to trouble AE users.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 30-Jul-2004, 02:03
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Country: Canada
Posts: 160
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
gonghai is an unknown quantity at this point
Default thanks guys

well that will solve most of the problems i have with would and will
if i think of other prob i will post another reply

thanks cas and tdol
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
awful, would

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 19:19.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com