will
modal verb/wɪl/
/wɪl/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they will | /wɪl/ /wɪl/ |
| 'll | /l/ /l/ |
| will not | |
| won't | /wəʊnt/ /wəʊnt/ |
| past simple would | /wəd/, strong form /wʊd/ /wəd/, strong form /wʊd/ |
| 'd | /d/ /d/ |
| would not | |
| wouldn't | /ˈwʊdnt/ /ˈwʊdnt/ |
- used for talking about or predicting the future
- You'll be in time if you hurry.
- How long will you be staying in Paris?
- Fred said he'd be leaving soon.
- By next year all the money will have been spent.
Homophones heal | heel | he'llheal heel he'll/hiːl//hiːl/- heal verb
- Salt can heal wounds.
- heel noun
- Her heel caught in the stairs and she tumbled down.
- he'll short form he will
- He'll arrive in a minute!
- used for asking somebody to do something
- Will you send this letter for me, please?
- You'll water the plants while I'm away, won't you?
- I asked him if he wouldn't mind calling later.
- used for inviting somebody to do something
- Will you join us for lunch?
- used for showing that somebody is willing to do something
- I'll check this letter for you, if you want.
- They won't lend us any more money.
- He wouldn't come—he said he was too busy.
- We said we would keep them.
- used for ordering somebody to do something
- You'll do it this minute!
- Will you be quiet!
- used for stating what you think is probably true
- That'll be the doctor now.
- You'll have had dinner already, I suppose.
- used for stating what is generally true
- If it's made of wood it will float.
- Engines won't run without lubricants.
- used for stating what is true or possible in a particular case
- This jar will hold a kilo.
- The door won't open!
- used for talking about habits
- She'll listen to music, alone in her room, for hours.
- He would spend hours on the telephone.
- (Irish English, New Zealand English) used in questions with I for making offers or suggestions
- Will I call back later?
Word Originmodal verb Old English wyllan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch willen, German wollen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin velle ‘will, wish’.
Grammar Point modal verbsmodal verbs
- The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would. Dare, need, have to and used to also share some of the features of modal verbs.
- Modal verbs have only one form. They have no -ing or -ed forms and do not add -s to the 3rd person singular form:
- He can speak three languages.
- She will try and visit tomorrow.
- Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions are ought to, have to and used to:
- You must find a job.
- You ought to stop smoking.
- I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago.
- Questions are formed without do/does in the present, or did in the past:
- Can I invite Mary?
- Should I have invited Mary?
- Negative sentences are formed with not or the short form -n’t and do not use do/does or did.
Grammar Point shall / willshall / will
See will in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee will in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English- In modern English the traditional difference between shall and will has almost disappeared, and shall is not used very much at all, especially in North American English. Shall is now only used with I and we, and often sounds formal and old-fashioned. People are more likely to say: I’ll (= I will) be late and ‘You’ll (= you will) apologize immediately.’‘No I won’t!’
- In British English shall is still used with I and we in questions or when you want to make a suggestion or an offer: What shall I wear to the party?Shall we order some coffee?I’ll drive, shall I?
Check pronunciation:
will