Modal verb WILL (WOULD). Modal verbs Will in English

The verb wil is one of the fundamental verbs in the English language. Let us examine in detail how the interrogative and negative forms of sentences are formed using the verb will. Let's look at the main grammatical rules to correctly use this verb in speech.

What does the verb will mean?

Will is a modal verb in English. This means that it not only stands on its own, but also helps other verbs indicate their form and tense.

For example, the non-modal verb say in the infinitive is used with the particle to: to say. To indicate changes in time, you must use some form of the verb and, if necessary, modal verbs.

For example:

I say. - I speak.

He said. - He said.

He couldn't say. - He could tell.

She will say. - She will say.

She would say. - She would say.

Wil is used to:

indicate the future tense;
express a promise or intention;
order something to be done;
make a polite request or ask a polite question;
indicate persistence in a negative way.

Pay attention to the forms of the verb will. In the past tense will - would. Would is also used as a particle "would".

He would go to the cinema, but he is alone that day.

He would go to the cinema, but he is alone today.

Difference between verbs will and shall

Previously, the verbs will and shall were used equivalently in English and had the same linguistic functions. The only difference was that shall was used with first person pronouns in the plural and singular: I (I) and we (we). In all other cases, the verb will was used.

Now this border has been erased, and will can be used with any pronouns. Shall in modern English is used with a proposal to do something. Example:

Shall we go to the cinema?

Let's go to the cinema?

In colloquial speech, the past form of the verb Shall is used to mean “is it worth it.” The past form of Shall - Should is read as [ɭu:d].

Should I go to the cinema?

Negative form of will

Let's look at the forms of the verb will using examples.

The negative form will is used in both interrogative and affirmative sentences. In the case of interrogatives, it is important to take into account the type of sentence; this will be discussed further.

To put the verb will in the negative form, you need to add the particle not after it.

I will not go for a walk tomorrow.

I won't go for a walk tomorrow.

Will not can also be shortened to won't. This form is pronounced . Not to be confused with the pronunciation of the verb want:.

He will not read this book. = He won’t read this book.

They will not study before the exam.

This creates the negative form will.

Interrogative form will: general and W-question

To put the verb will in interrogative form, you do not need to add anything to it. If the question belongs to the category of General Questions - questions that require the answer “yes” or “no”, then it is necessary to put the verb will in first place.

Will he talk to us today?

Note! One of the most common mistakes Russian speakers make in English is using speak with somebody instead of speak to somebody. The correct option is Speak TO somebody.

In so-called W-questions, the verb will is not used in posing the question. By the way, W-questions are questions that require a detailed answer, and not just “yes” or “no”. This category of questions received this name because they mostly begin with the following words:

What (What).
Who (Who).
Why.
When.
Where.
How.
How much (How much) and the like.

Most question words begin with the English letter W.

Questions in this case are constructed according to standard grammar rules, and will is used as part of a sentence.

For example:

When will you eat your cake?

Where will she sleep?

Please note that the verb will is not placed at the beginning of the sentence in W-questions, as is the case with a general question.

Interrogative form will: alternative and tag-questions

The name speaks for itself: anything proposed can be built according to the principle of W-questions and according to the principle of affirmative sentences.

For example (based on the W-questions principle):

What will you drink: tea or coffee?

For example (based on the principle of affirmative sentences):

Will you drink tea or coffee?

Note! The pronoun you can be translated both as “you” and as “you” (both singular and plural).

If the question belongs to the category of Tag Questions - questions with the so-called tail “isn’t it?”, then you must:

Make up an affirmative sentence to which the conditional tail “isn’t it?” will be added.
Determine whether the affirmative sentence is negative or positive. Negative - if it contains the particle not or other linguistic negations: never, nobody, and so on.
If the sentence is positive, then the verb Will must be put in the negative form; if the sentence is negative, then Will must be in the positive form.
Add the pronoun from the affirmative sentence to the verb Will.

Thus, put the sentences in the negative form.

You will visit your friends tomorrow, won't you?

The sentence You will visit your friends tomorrow is positive, since the particle not and other indicators of negation are absent, therefore the tail of will is in a negative form.

She won’t start doing her homework this week, will she?

She won't start doing her homework this week, will she?

The sentence She won’t start doing her homework this week is negative because the particle not is present (won’t = will not), so the verb will is in the positive form.

Please note that when translating into Russian, the tail “isn’t it” can be replaced with similar expressions that are suitable in meaning and context.

You won't stop shouting, will you?

You won't stop screaming, will you?

They will go to sleep later, won’t they?

They'll go to bed later, right?

Be sure to consider the context.

That bridge will be so happy with him, won’t she?

Translation: “That bride will be happy with him, right?” is appropriate in a friendly conversation, but if the phrase is used in the context of a social event, then it is better to say “That bride will be happy with him, won’t she?”

Conclusion

Putting the verb will in interrogative or negative form is not difficult if you know the rules of English grammar. In essence, they resemble a simple formula into which you need to substitute the necessary words.

For those who have a sense of language, this will be easier to do.

Frequent practice, communication or watching films in English will strengthen your linguistic sense.

will And would are used to express the speaker's will, intention and persistence. Verbs after will And would used without a particle to.

Will used to express present and future tenses, and would– past or to express politeness. As a rule, they are highlighted by intonation or translated by the verb “ want».

Past	The present	Future
Would	Will / Would	Will
You knew I would do it anyway. You knew I wanted to do it anyway.	I like it and I will buy it! I like it and I want to buy it!
	Would you mind my sitting here? Do you mind if I sit here?

Will

You don't like it but I will buy it.
You don't like it, but I intend to buy it (anyway).

Statement

Modal verbs in affirmative sentences will And would almost never used with a subject, expressed pronoun You(you you).

Intention
We like this place that is why we will stay here!– We like this place so we will stay here!
Ann didn’t have enough money but she would buy this dress anyway. Ann didn’t have enough money, but she still wanted to buy this dress.

Perseverance
You don’t want to hear but I will say it anyway.“You don’t want to hear it, but I’ll say it anyway.”
Matt asked not to sing loudly but Jack would do it.– Matt asked not to sing loudly, but Jack continued to do so.

Verb would used in design I would like..(I would like...), which expresses a desire or a polite request.

I would like a cup of coffee.– I would like a cup of coffee.
I would like to ask you for some help.-I would like to ask you for help.
I would like to know whether this shop is still open.– I would like to know if this store is still open.

Negation

In negative sentences with modal verbs will And would, as a rule, the first and third person are used. Particle not comes after will And would.

It is hard but we will not give up.“It’s difficult, but we don’t give up.”
You can try but she will not speak to you.– You can try, but she won’t (won’t want) to talk to you.

He begged me but I would not change my mind.“He begged me, but I didn’t change my mind.
Paul was wet enough but he would not change.“The floor was quite wet, but I didn’t want to change my clothes.”

With inanimate objects will not or wouldn't are used to show that these items are not doing their job or their intended purpose.

will not = won’t (abbreviation)
I want to enter but the door won’t open.– I want to go in, but the door won’t open.

would not = wouldn't
I was in a hurry but my car wouldn’t start up.“I was in a hurry, but my car didn’t want to start.”

Question

Modal verbs will And would with subject, expressed pronoun You, are used to create polite questions. Wherein would more polite than will, and is often used in the design would you like..?(would you like..? would you like to..?).

Will you have a cup of coffee?- Would you like a cup of coffee?
Would you pass me some bread please?- Could you please pass me some bread?

Would you like some wine?- Would you like some wine?
What Would you like to drink, madam?-What would you like to drink, madam?

Features of use

Verbs will And would combine the modal meaning (desire, intention) with the function of the auxiliary verb of the future ( will) and past tense ( would). However, modal verbs will And would Most often used with the first person, expressing the intention, desire of the speaker, or with the second person in polite questions.

Will not have

I would prefer to stay at home.– I would prefer to stay at home.
I would prefer not to say it.– I would rather not say this.
Would you prefer me to have lied?“Would you rather I lied?” (but at that moment I didn’t lie)

would prefer to = ‘d prefer to (abbreviation)
I 'd prefer my best friend to go abroad with me.– I would like my best friend to go abroad with me. ing me a cup of coffee? – Could you bring me a cup of coffee?
Would you mind Jack 's sitting here?– Do you mind if Jack sits here?

Design I wouldn't mind expresses agreement with something.

I wouldn't mind if you came with me.“I don’t mind if you come with me.”
I wouldn’t mind getting you a cup of coffee.“I don’t mind bringing you a cup of coffee.”
I wouldn't mind your telling them this story.“I don’t mind if you tell them this story.”

Affirmative form	Negative form	Interrogative form
I shall (I'll)	I shall not (shan’t)	Shall I not (shan’t I)?
he will (he'll)	he won't (won't)	Will he not (won’t he)?
she will (she'll)	she will not (won’t)	Will she not (won’t she)?
we shall (we'll)	we shall not (shan’t)	Shall we not(shan’t we)?
you will (you'll)	you won't (won't)	Will you not (won’t you)?
they will (they'll)	they will not (won’t)	Will they not (won’t they)?

Use

The verb shall in English is used:

1. As an auxiliary verb in combination with an infinitive without the particle to to form the future tense in the 1st person singular and plural.

I shall go to the cinema. I will go to the cinema.
We shall translate this text tomorrow. We will translate this text tomorrow.

Note. There is a tendency to use will instead of shall with the first person.

I will be busy tonight. I'll be busy tonight.
We will have an English lesson tomorrow. We will have an English lesson tomorrow.

2. As a modal verb in the following cases:

a) in the 2nd person in a question, if an answer is expected in the future tense, to clarify the desire of the person to whom the question is addressed.

Shall do you work tomorrow? - Will you work tomorrow? -
Yes, I shall. (No, I shan’t.) Yes, I’m working. (No, I do not work.)

b) with the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural to express the speaker’s firm intention.

You shall have a doll. You will have a doll.
Not shan't come here. He won't come here. (I will not let.)

c) with the 2nd and 3rd persons to express orders.

Each competitor shall wear a number.
Each participant in the competition must have a number.

Members shall enter the names of their guests in the book.
Members (of the club) must enter the names of their guests in the book.

Please note:

In colloquial speech with the 1st person singular and plural, will is often used instead of shall, which emphasizes desire and intention.

d) in questions in the 1st and 3rd person singular and plural to receive instructions, orders, advice or suggestions.

Shall I wait for you? Should I wait for you?
Shall I help you to pack the things? Should I help you pack your things?
Shall we meet at the theater? Meet me at the theater?
Shall he begin to read? Should I start reading to him?
Where shall we put this? Where do we put it?
Which one shall I buy? Which (tie, suit, etc.) should I buy?

The verb will in English is used:

1. As an auxiliary verb in combination with an infinitive without the particle to to form the future tense with the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural.

They will go on an excursion on Sunday.
They will go on an excursion on Sunday.

2. As an auxiliary verb with the 1st person singular and plural instead of shall.

We will go there at 5 o'clock.
We will go there at 5 o'clock.

3. In interrogative form in the 2nd person to express a polite request, offer, invitation.

Will you type this, please. Will you print this? (Please print this. Print this, please.)

Will you give him this letter? Will you give him this letter? (Give him this letter, please.)

Will anyone who witnessed this accident please telephone the nearest militia station. Anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to call the nearest police station.

Will you come to tea tomorrow? Will you come for tea tomorrow? (Come for tea tomorrow, please.)

Will you have some more tea? Would you like some more tea?

4. As a modal verb in the following cases:

a) in the 1st person singular and plural to express desire, intention, determination.

I will go with you on an excursion. I will go on an excursion with you (I really want this).
We will work tomorrow till eight o'clock. We will work until eight o'clock tomorrow (at our own request).

b) in the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural to express orders, obligations (more often used in schools or military institutions).

You will stay home tonight. You'll stay home tonight.
All boys will attend roll-call at 9 o’ clock. All boys must report for roll call at 9 o'clock.

c) in a negative form to express reluctance, refusal to fulfill a request, resistance to human efforts (if we are talking about inanimate objects).

Not won't go to the director and talk with him. He doesn't want to go to the director and talk to him.
The pen won't write. The pen doesn't write.
The door won't open. The door doesn't open.

Remember the general rule for using shall and will:

SHALL is used in all persons to express an action that occurs under the influence of external influence (order, instruction, etc.).

WILL is used in all persons to express an action that occurs under the influence of an internal impulse.

The independent participial phrase in English plays the role of an adverbial time, reason or condition in a sentence and is separated from the main part of the sentence by a comma.

The auxiliary verb will is used in all future tense sentences, both active and passive voices. Its main task is to indicate that a sentence belongs to the future tense, so this verb in most cases is used only as an auxiliary. But it can also be used as a semantic meaning “to bequeath.” In the noun form it means “will.” In colloquial speech it may also be present to indicate a request or irritation of the speaker.

Will you close the window?
Could you please close the window? (request)

Will you be quiet!
Calm down already. (irritation)

The auxiliary verb will does not change its form, regardless of the tense group, number and person.

Subject	Future Simple	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Future Perfect Continuous
I	Will	Will be	Will have	Will have been
He She It Proper names	Will	Will be	Will have	Will have been
We You They	Will	Will be	Will have	Will have been

Example sentences:

I will be with you.
I'll be with you.

She will start the exercises tomorrow.
She will start the exercises tomorrow.

Will they be back tomorrow?
Will they be back tomorrow?

It is also worth paying attention to the rule of abbreviation of the verb will and the particle not:

Will not = Won't

When contracting the verb will and the negative particle not, the notation won"t is used. The generally accepted rules for contraction for this auxiliary verb cannot be used, therefore willn"t and willnot are incorrect.

It is worth noting that won’t is pronounced absolutely identical to the verb want (to want), so they are indistinguishable by ear. But these two words can be easily distinguished from each other in the context of a conversation. To learn this, you need to remember that will (won’t) is an auxiliary verb, and want is a semantic one. Any two semantic verbs standing next to each other must always be separated by the particle to, while the auxiliary verb and the semantic verb are not separated by anything.

I won't help him. - I won't help him.

I want to help him. - I want to help him.

Therefore, if the particle to is present, then we are dealing with a semantic verb, in this case with the verb want. If there is no to particle, it means that the first verb is an auxiliary verb. In our case – won’t. And remember that in a declarative sentence, the auxiliary verb must always be followed by a semantic one (with the exception of the auxiliary verb to be).

I want this toy! - I want this toy!

There is no particle to here, but there is also no verb after the word want. Therefore, there cannot be any auxiliary verb won’t here.

Here you can take a lesson on the topic: Future tense and the verb "will" in English. Future Simple Tense and "will".

In English there are several ways to express actions in the future tense. So, for example, using the phrase to be going to (plans and intentions), or using the Present Continuous tenses (pre-planned events) and Present Simple (schedules and programs).

However, the most important and meaningful way of expressing the future simple tense in English is the short word will, which is both the future form of the verb to be and one of the modal verbs.

The form of the verb will is quite simple, since it does not vary in numbers or persons, and is used with the usual infinitive. The meaning of the word will is more complex, which we will look at in this lesson, along with its use in various sentences and some distinctive features.

I. The first thing you should familiarize yourself with is conjugation of the verb will in affirmative, negative and interrogative form, using personal pronouns as an example. pay attention to possible reductions.

1. Below is the conjugation in affirmative, negative and interrogative forms:

(+)
I will (I"ll) - I will
You will (You"ll) - You will / You will
He will (He"ll) - He will
She will (She"ll) - She will
It will (It"ll) - He/She will (inanimate)
We will (We"ll) - We will
They will (They"ll) - They will

(-)
I will not (I won't) - I won't
You will not (You won't) - You won't / You won't
He will not (He won't) - He won't
She will not (She won't) - She won't
It will not (It won't) - He/She will not (inanimate)
We will not (We won't) - We won't
They will not (They won't) - They won't

(?)
Will I..? - Will I be..?
Will you..? - Will you..? / Will you..?
Will he..? - Will he..?
Will she..? - Will she..?
Will it..? - Will he/she..? (inanimate)
Will we..? - Will we..?
Will they..? - Will they..?

As can be seen from the examples, will does not change in any way, and this is quite convenient when composing sentences. The only noticeable changes are visible in the shortened negative form - won"t /"wəunt/.

2. Due to the fact that the verb will belongs to the modal group, he obeys many of the rules of this particular group. For example, after all modal verbs (except have to and need to) in sentences follows the infinitive(original form of the verb). For example:

He will call you tomorrow. - He will call you tomorrow.
I won't tell you her secret. - I won't tell you her secret.
Will she be back by next Sunday? -Yes, she will. -No, she won't. - Will she be back by next Sunday? - Yes. - No.
Where will you stay during your holiday? - Where will you stay during your vacation?

As can be seen from the examples, marker words are often used in the simple future tense: tomorrow, next week, next month, in the future, in the coming year the coming year), soon (soon), in a week (in a week), in several days (in a few days), etc.

The examples also show several features of interrogative sentences with the word will. First of all, these are short answers to general questions that must be repeat the verb will in affirmative and negative form. And the second feature is the ability to build special questions in the simple future tense with any question words (what, where, why, when, etc.) that are placed at the very beginning of the sentence.

II. The future tense verb will has many meanings. Let's consider each of them separately.

1. First of all, will, in contrast to the phrase to be going to, expresses spontaneous unplanned actions in the future. For example:

Fine, I"ll let you know when I"m free. - Okay, I'll let you know when I'm free.
- The phone is ringing. - I "ll answer it. - The phone rings. - I will answer.
I think, he will never call again. - I don't think he'll ever call again.

From the examples it is clear that these phrases express unplanned thoughts, i.e. that the speaker did not plan them in advance, but just decided. The last example also clearly demonstrates that instead of the particle not, the word never can be used to give a sentence a negative connotation.

2. The word will is often used in offers - promises. For example:

I will never leave you. - I'll never leave you.
It won't hurt, I promise. - It won't hurt, I promise.

3. Will is also used to express actions in the future that are inevitable. For example:

He will be far away at this time tomorrow. - He will be very far away by this time tomorrow.
I will turn 30 next September. - I will turn 30 next September.

4. One of the common uses of the word will is confident future forecasts and predictions. For example:

This card says that you"ll be happy with him. - This card says that you will be happy with him.
The weather won't change tomorrow. - The weather won't change tomorrow.

5. B the main part of conditional sentences of the first type the verb will is also often used. For example:

If it rains. I"ll wear a raincoat. - If it rains, I will put on a raincoat.
If you come with us, we"ll book a larger table. - If you come with us, we will reserve a larger table.

6. Will is also often used to express probable actions in future with expressions:
I think.., I hope.., I"m sure.., I"m afraid.., I promise.., possibly, probably, and some others. For example:

I think she will pass this exam. - I think she will pass this exam.
I promise that I"ll help you with your home task. - I promise I will help you with your homework.
I"m sure they"ll win. - I'm sure they will win.
I"m afraid he won"t come. - I'm afraid he won't come.
It"ll probably rain tonight. - It might rain tonight.
He'll possibly win this fight. - Perhaps he will win this fight.

III. In addition to the verb will, the modal verb shall is sometimes used to express the future simple tense. This is especially applicable to questions with shades of request (Request) or proposal(Offer). For example:

Shall we dance? - Shall we dance?
Shall I make you some coffee? - Shall I make you some coffee?
Shall I see you tomorrow? - Will we see you tomorrow?

It is believed that in British English shall is used in ordinary affirmative sentences with the first person (I shall, We shall), however, these are slightly outdated expressions.

Quite often the future simple tense with the verbs will and shall is used in English sayings. For example:

Broken friendship may be soldered, but will never be sound. - A cracked friendship can be mended, but it will never be strong again.
No herb will cure love. - Love cannot be cured by any potions.
He that will eat the kernel must crack the nut. - Anyone who wants to eat nuts must crack them. / If you don’t crack the nut, you won’t eat the kernel.
We shall see what we shall see. - We'll see about that later./ It depends on how you look.
Many words will not fill a bushel. - You can’t fill a vessel with many words. / You won’t be full of conversations.
If the sky falls, we shall catch larks. - If the sky falls, we will catch larks./ If only, if only.
Hawks will not pick hawks" eyes. - A hawk will not peck out a hawk's eyes.
Not that will not when he may, when he will he shall have nay. - He who doesn’t want to when he can, won’t be able to when he wants to.
As the tree falls, so shall it lie. - As the tree falls, so will it lie./Where the tree leaned, that’s where it fell.

Thus, we became familiar with the future tense in English, as well as with the verbs of the future: will and shall. In addition, we looked at the form and place of the verb will in sentences, plus its many meanings.

For a small charge, try to translate the following sentences in English:

I think he will like this gift.
The weather will change for the better next week.
He promised that he would call me.
Can I help you with these heavy bags?
Can you help me?
If it's cold, I'll put on my warm coat.
I'm sure this team will win.
She probably won't come.
It might rain tomorrow.
I'm afraid this won't help.
Where should we celebrate this Christmas?