[Grammar] Bruce would lend you the money, I’m sure.

[kadioguy]

would
modal verb

8. to be willing
a. used when you think someone is willing to do something
Bruce would lend you the money, I’m sure.

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/would
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1. Bruce would lend you the money, I’m sure.
2. Bruce will lend you the money, I’m sure.

Does they mean the same meaning? Could you tell me the reason?

 

[jutfrank]

1. Bruce would lend you the money, I’m sure.
2. Bruce will lend you the money, I’m sure.

Does they mean the same meaning?

They could have the same meaning of willingness, yes.

Could you tell me the reason?

The reason for what?

 

[kadioguy]

They could have the same meaning of willingness, yes.

But why not will is more certain than would?

 

[jutfrank]

But why not will is more certain than would?

I don't understand what you mean. Why are you asking about certainty? Why do you assume that will is not more certain than would? How is this related to the thread?

 

[kadioguy]

I don't understand what you mean. Why are you asking about certainty? Why do you assume that will is not more certain than would? How is this related to the thread?

Sorry, what I meant to say is the following:

But why not will is more certain than would?
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1. Bruce would lend you the money, I’m sure.
2. Bruce will lend you the money, I’m sure.


why not (2) is more affirmative than (1)?

 

[jutfrank]

Sorry, What I meant to say is the following:

But why not will is more certain than would?

I don't understand what you mean. Why are you asking about certainty? Why do you assume that will is not more certain than would? How is this related to the thread?

Nobody has mentioned "certainty" so it is not appropriate to start asking questions about it here. Before your next question, think carefully about what you've learned so far: that the meaning of would is willingness.

Bruce would lend you the money, I'm sure.

You can think of the above sentence like this: Bruce would lend you the money if you asked him.

Bruce will lend you the money, I'm sure.

You can think of the above sentence like this: Bruce will lend you the money if you ask him.

The first sentence (an unreal conditional) is more hypothetical than the second (a real conditional), but the meaning is basically the same: I associate Bruce with a willingness to lend you the money.

Any sense of certainty is carried by the phrase I'm sure, not by the modal verbs. There is no reason to assume that the degree of certainty is greater in either sentence.

 

[GoesStation]

But why is "will" not [STRIKE]will is[/STRIKE] more certain than "would"?

 

[kadioguy]

I don't understand what you mean. Why are you asking about certainty? Why do you assume that will is not more certain than would? How is this related to the thread?

I am so sorry. I didn't explain my opinion appropriately.

I want to say the following:

When a situation will happen, it is more likely happen than a situation which would happen.

This is why I said I thought will is more certain than would.

But maybe the word 'certain' is inappropriate here. Sorry for that.

 

[kadioguy]

But why is "will" not [STRIKE]will is[/STRIKE] more certain than "would"?

Actually what I want to say is the following:

Why not say that "will" is more certain than "would"?
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I used the sentence "why not...?" the wrong way. Sorry.

 

[kadioguy]

Bruce would lend you the money, I'm sure.

You can think of the above sentence like this: Bruce would lend you the money if you asked him.

Bruce will lend you the money, I'm sure.

You can think of the above sentence like this: Bruce will lend you the money if you ask him.

The first sentence (an unreal conditional) is more hypothetical than the second (a real conditional), but the meaning is basically the same: I associate Bruce with a willingness to lend you the money.

Any sense of certainty is carried by the phrase I'm sure, not by the modal verbs. There is no reason to assume that the degree of certainty is greater in either sentence.

The explanation above has answered my question. Thank you, jutfrank.

 

[jutfrank]

I am so sorry. I didn't explain my opinion appropriately.

Okay, no problem. I understand what you mean now.

When a situation will happen, it is more likely happen than a situation which would happen.

Well, though this is very basically true, you should be very careful how you interpret this idea of 'likeliness'. In my opinion, this is a very, very difficult idea to grasp, even for native speakers.

Modal verbs are very difficult to understand. As a teacher I know this so I suggest that your strategy be to take individual example sentences (like the one here), and look at the specific uses of the modal verbs as they function in those specific instances, rather than trying to make overarching generalisations. That can come later.