will vs would

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Mr. X

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Hi,

I am trying to understand the difference between the two. For example: Let's say I sign the deal. Will you be angry? (here, I believe will is right because there is speculation over the future).

Otherwise, if we use would in a question, it refers to the immediate present. In other words, will=future, would=present. Is that right?

Mr. X
 
Rover_KE said:
'Let's say I sign the deal. Will you be angry?' correct.

When you bring the conditional in, use would:

'If I were to sign the deal, would you be angry?'

In both cases, we're talking about the future.

Rover
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Thanks, Rover, but can would be used even without the conditional? For instance: I am going to ask a few questions. Would that be okay with you? (I am assuming 'would' rather than 'will' is right here because it keeps things in the immediate present).

Also in statements, we say: I suppose that would be fine. Isn't this a polite way to saying: I suppose that is fine (rather than I suppose that will be fine). Doesn't would be simply replace is rather than act as the past of will?
 
Not a teacher.

"Would" is conditional.
 
SoothingDave said:
Not a teacher.

"Would" is conditional.
Click to expand...

I am not sure that's always the case. 'That is fine' is simple present. 'That would be fine' is also present tense but it is a more formal way of putting it. Would doesn't make it conditional here.
 
Mr. X said:
I am not sure that's always the case. 'That is fine' is simple present. 'That would be fine' is also present tense but it is a more formal way of putting it. Would doesn't make it conditional here.
Click to expand...

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Mr. X.

(1) I found your question and the posters' answers most

interesting and helpful.

(2) May I suggest that we can all agree to call would a modal?

(Then we need not debate the word conditional.)

(3) I found something in Mr. L. G. Alexander's highly respected

Longman English Grammar that might (!) apply to your question:

We often use would in place of the simple present tense when we

want to sound less definite.

Therefore, MAYBE (!!!) we can analyze your examples this way:

(Two people are speaking) "I am going to bring the contract to your

office on Friday. That is fine." = definite.

"I am going to bring the contract to your office on Friday. That would

be fine." = less definite.

Thank you
 
"Would" can also be used to talk about past habits, in the same way that we use "used to". "When I lived by the sea, I would swim every morning." For example.
 
Would can be used to add a degree of politeness as well as making something less definite.
 
bhaisahab said:
"Would" can also be used to talk about past habits, in the same way that we use "used to". "When I lived by the sea, I would swim every morning." For example.
Click to expand...
"Would" really confused me, what I know about it is that it can be used in past habits but can it be used in present and future habits?

Do these sentences have a difference.
Past: If peter went to America I would go with him.
Future: If peter go to America I would go with him.
 
atchan said:
"Would" really confused me, what I know about it is that it can be used in past habits but can it be used in present and future habits?

Do these sentences have a difference.
Past: If peter went to America, I would go with him.
Future: If peter go to America I would go with him.
Click to expand...
Past: If Peter went to America, I would go with him. This is not past tense, it's conditional. We don't know if Peter will go to America, but if he does, "I" will go with him.
Which leads us neatly to your next example:
Future: If Peter goes to America, I will go with him.
 
Atchan, would you check this link please?;

Would

It helps me at times I get the similar confusion how to use "would". All different usages of would are here in an orderly fashion.
 
bhaisahab said:
"Would" can also be used to talk about past habits, in the same way that we use "used to". "When I lived by the sea, I would swim every morning." For example.
Click to expand...
And "will" can serve the same purpose when it comes to the present, can't it?
 
This isn't true. "Will" can be used for present habits.

He will always come to me asking for money. That's irritating!
 
birdeen's call said:
This isn't true. "Will" can be used for present habits.

He will always come to me asking for money. That's irritating!
Click to expand...

That should be: he would always come...
 
TheParser said:
********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Mr. X.

(1) I found your question and the posters' answers most

interesting and helpful.

(2) May I suggest that we can all agree to call would a modal?

(Then we need not debate the word conditional.)

(3) I found something in Mr. L. G. Alexander's highly respected

Longman English Grammar that might (!) apply to your question:

We often use would in place of the simple present tense when we

want to sound less definite.

Therefore, MAYBE (!!!) we can analyze your examples this way:

(Two people are speaking) "I am going to bring the contract to your

office on Friday. That is fine." = definite.

"I am going to bring the contract to your office on Friday. That would

be fine." = less definite.

Thank you
Click to expand...

I disagree somewhat with Parser's example, but only in part. The original question asked the difference between will/would in the question, "Will/Would you be angry?." The use of modal "will" is being used with epistemic modality, which is the likeliness of a conclusion based on the speaker's deductions. Parser's sentence "That would be fine" has little to do with likeliness of a conclusion but of the speaker's requirements or approval, root modality.

The correct explanation, I believe, is the epistemic interpretation where present and past tenses of "will" express distance from reality. In other words,

1) "Will you be angry?" expresses a future state where the speaker is more direct in his question and expecting a clear and precise answer.

2) "Would you be angry?" expresses a hypothetical state where the speaker is asking without committing him/herself to the situation.

EXAMPLE

Will you take courses in linguistics (this semester) ?
Would you (ever) take courses in linguistics (if you went to college)?

This is from Yule's "Explaining English Grammar"

I hope this helps.
 
joelsensei said:
Would you (ever) take courses in linguistics (if you went to college)?

This is from Yule's "Explaining English Grammar"

I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks, it does help. Suppose the conversation continues (in the hypothetical), do we keep it to would and avoid will. For instance: Would you take the course...?
"Of course, I would (instead of I will). Why would you ask?"
"Because I am not sure how you would (instead of will) manage."

And so on and so on. So as long as they're keeping it to the hypothetical, we stick with would, right?

EDIT: Also this one. "If you don't want that to happen, it would be in your best interests to change." Would seems right here.

Mr. X
 
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Mr. X said:
That should be: he would always come...
Click to expand...

I disagree- Birdeen's Call is right to use will there; it's a current habit that is annoying the speaker and not a past one.
 
birdeen's call said:
And "will" can serve the same purpose when it comes to the present, can't it?
Click to expand...
Yes, it can.
"He will always come to me asking for money. That's irritating!" This is correct.
 
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