Difference Between Would and Will
Would vs Will
In English there is a significant difference between the uses of would and will. Knowing when to use the terms correctly is an important part of mastering the English language.
Will and would are both types of auxiliary verbs that are known as modal verbs. Other modal verbs include: could, shall, might, may, can, ought to and must. Modal verbs don’t really have any meaning on their own, but act as helpers to give further meaning to other verbs.
Will is a definite statement, which means that you use it when you are certain that the future action is going to take place. For example: ‘I will go and collect the mail in the morning’. When you use will you or the subject executing the future action is committed to it being carried out.
The modal verb will can be used to talk about quick decisions, promises, offers and a likely prediction. For example: ‘I think I will take the bus instead of walking.’ instant decision; ‘I’ll get the dog washed tomorrow.’ promise; ‘I will help you with your homework after dinner.’ offers and ‘I’ll bet she spent a lot of money on that dress.’ likely predictions.
Will is also used as a first conditional, which is used for cause and effect in situations that are not changeable. For example: ‘If it rains, you will get wet,’ or ‘If you are late to work, you will get in trouble.’
Would is an English modal verb and has many different uses, which include: invitations, requests, asking permission, talking about preferences and making arrangements. For example: ‘Would you like to come to the party on Saturday?’ is an invitation; ‘Would you be able to post this parcel for me?’ is a request; ‘Would I be able to leave early today?’ is asking permission; ‘Would you like steak or chicken for dinner?’ or ‘I would prefer to eat ice cream’ are both examples of talking about preferences and ‘Would Friday at 8pm suit you?’ or ‘Saturday at 6pm would suit me.’ are ways to make arrangements using would.
Would is also used in second and third conditional statements, which are used to talk about imaginary or unlikely situations. For example: ‘If I knew where he lived, I would visit him,’ Is a second conditional statement. An example of a third conditional statement is thus: ‘If I had known about the party earlier, I would have gone.’ This is used to express an imaginary situation that took place in the past.
Summary:
1.Would and will are both auxiliary modal verbs.
2.Will is used to talk about definite future actions.
3.Will is used to talk about: quick decisions, promises, offers and a likely prediction
4.Would is used to talk about: invitations, requests, asking permission, talking about preferences and making arrangements.
Both will and would can be used in conditional statements.
- Difference Between Governor and Senator - November 14, 2009
- Difference Between Immigration and Migration - November 14, 2009
- Difference Between Who and Whom - November 13, 2009
Read More ESL Articles
Search DifferenceBetween.net :
Email This Post
: If you like this article or our site. Please spread the word. Share it with your friends/family.
Would or Will
The definitions provided were helpful. However, I have an additional question regarding the usage of would or will. Which sentence is correct in responding to the question “Would you recommend this book to others?”
Response: I will recommend this book to others or I would recommend this book to others and why.
Thank you.
Brenda,
Both are correct depending on what you are trying to say:
If the question is: “Would you recommend this book to others?” (i.e please can you pass on the message and recommend this to others members of a group) the response would be “I will…”
If however the question is: “Would you recommend this book to others?” (i.e did you like this book and if having a general chat about books at some time in the future would you mention it) the response would be “I would”.
It depends on how certain it is that you are going to do the thing.
I would is right
yh. would is alright
Hi Saket,
Here is a difference between “will” & “would” …that we were talking of…!
– Rahul Phadke.
@Brenda
Both responses would be correct, however the norm is to use ‘would’. I will denotes a strong feeling of excitement that you are definitely going to recommend the book because you enjoyed it that much. I would is more of a statement, if someone asks you then you would recommend the book. ‘Will’ is also used as stated above, a kind of promise in a way.
Both are correct but I would find myself using I would instead of I will.
I hope this helps.
Darren
would u please tell me the diffrences&usages of Get&make?
hmm.. eow srinu…. ur sentence is right but not appropriate wen it comes in using words… use could instead of would….
Yes, ‘could’ it’s a sign of not commanding, i.e. Respect…
This is very helpful.
Hello there,i do not agree that ”will” is a definite statement.What if my sentence is ‘Will you marry me?’How would that be a definite statement?Please specify.
Denzel, “will you marry me?” I believe is an offer so it should be correct.
I think “will you marry me?” is correct. but I think “would you marry me?” is more appropriate since this line is more of an invitation. just a thought.
i think “will”” is more appropriate because it requires a quick decision though it’s an invitation.
The quick ans dont depent on me … its depends on her .. so there is no point of quick ans .. she can tell u later ..so would vl be correct
yes, “Will you marry me?” is correct because you’re asking for a commitment.
“Would you marry me?” is technically correct, but that’s implying it’s a hypothetical question. e.g “Would you marry me — if I were to seriously ask you?”
It’s a definite question though. It’s not like if the person is asking, ‘If I were to tell you that I used to be married, would you marry me?’
So you use: would you marry me ?
Yes, I would marry you.
can you give the difference between will and would in tabular form or serial number wise. Because it is very easy to understand the difference in these two case.
hello all,
plz help me which one is correct,
“We hope that everything will be alright?” or “We hope that everything would be alright?”
Both sentences are correct. The first one indicates sureness or something certain is going to happen while the second line is a statement of one’s expectations of the future.
only the first is correct. If you are uncertain enough to use would, you must also use the past tense of hope. “We hoped everything would be okay” There is still a lot of confusion in this forum, when it comes to conditional sentences. ie:
I will be coming to visit (no conditions – certain)
I will be coming to visit if it doesn’t rain (conditions, but with real chances of them being met)
I would come visit if I had the money (conditions will not likely be met)
I would be coming to visit if I hadn’t wrecked my car. (we already know conditions can not be met)
Hope this helps.
Wow. It’s so helpful that I’m very happy.
Because I’m suffering from this problem seriously for a long time.
Very very very thanks!
You stated this as an example:
“If I had know about the party earlier, I would have gone.â€
I think the correct grammar is:
“If I had KNOWN about the party earlier, I would have gone.â€
Nice information about will vs. would on this page, though.
Amassing. Really good to be cleared on this.
Thanks to ya’all.
it helps me alot 😉 thank you guys. because i was having hard time with these two words.
still i do not understand why?????????
Please tel me the differnce between these two sentences…
” i wil be coming tomrw” & ” i would be coming tmrw”
anybody pls explain….
” I will be coming tomorrow ” means that you are coming tomorrow for sure come what may .
But “I would be coming tomorrow ” means that you will come tomorrow only when if some condition is met . For example ” I would be coming tomorrow only if doesn’t rain “
plz help me in understanding these words as i am very confused of them
what would indicates, is it past or present or what?
all the examples above does not tell me exactly what is would?
i will recommed this book to others.
i hope the above is right?
thanks it really help me to understand the difference ! i have already study this but i didnt remember it! thanks again for this!
Nice one guys! U̶̲̥̅̊’ve rily cleared M̶̲̥̅γ̲̣̣̥ doubts on the proper usage of would Ãήϑ will. I will like to say a very big thank Ÿ̲̣̣̣̥ø̲̣̣̥u̶̲̥̅̊. Hope it’s correct???…..
would you plz help me out…
which one is correct
i would love to say this to my man
OR
i will love to say this to my man
em damn confusrd…=(
Plz help me out guys:
which one is correct??
Now when our new Director has joined, I would like to understand if we can continue getting time sheets approved by him or Manager would/will?? do that.
As grammar aficionados, be careful. This sentence you used is incorrect:
When you use will you or the subject executing the future action is committed to it being carried out
“Being” is a gerund (noun) so it should “itS being carried out” so show possession.
sir,
which is correct
Minister would arrange everything here on Monday
minister will arrange everything here on Monday.
First: Remember to say “The resignation letter . . . ”
And yes, I agree that “You will receive the resignation letter . . . ”
is better than “The letter will be received . . . ”
TS
I thnk ‘would’ is the correct 1 cuz u dont noe whether the minister will arrange everything or nt so by using would u assure him that minister will arrange everything….hope ths helps….
So how would u know if the minister would eventually arrange the file??
Thanks a lot
This explanation has totally cleared my concept about the usage on ‘will’ and ‘would’ in English. Thank you very much.
thanks a lot.
Resignation Letter you will be received on tomorrow.
The resignation letter would be received by you tomorrow.
which one is correct ? pls advise..
the correct one is “you will receive the resignation letter by tomorrow”
Excuse me. My questions is the following.
Can I make questions with the auxiliary “WILL”?
For example, Will you go to church? Or I have to switch to “WOULD” instead of “will” … It’s for teaching the future with “WILL”. Thanks.
I don’t understand where whould have been put in making the sentence
Please help me.Which sentence is correct ?
I would be waiting to get a call/msg from you after 2 weeks.
OR
I will be waiting to get a call/msg from you after 2 weeks.
the point is that they are both right.
Which one you choose to use depends on your intended meaning.
I would be waiting to get a call… [ hypothetically, I would IF I had a phone… etc.]
I will be waiting to get a call… [definitely! I WILL! ]
More tip on english language
thanks you of all
Will you be available or Would you be available? Which one is correct? Please advise.
Thank you
Both are correct. Use the one that best matches your intended meaning:
I am having a surprise party for my sister next Saturday and I want you to come — will you be available?
I want to give my sister a surprise party but I can’t find a good date that fits everyone’s schedules. If I were to plan it for next Saturday would you be available?
would you be available
I would like to tell you that ‘would’ is the past tense of ‘will,’ and that I hope this would clarify your doubts. On an additional note, I do know for a certain that I will be more actively participating in this exciting website in the future.
I found this “Five Minute Journal” that asks the same questions each day to help you focus.
The second question is “What would make today great?”
The author may also have asked:
What will make today great?
What could make today great?
What can make today great?
In trying to honestly answer the question, I looked up the exact difference between will/would and would/could. Here’s what I have come up with:
What will make today great? – what will I definitely do that will have a definite outcome with a result I deem as “great”
What could make today great? – what might happen, apart from my taking action, that will have a possible outcome of “great”. could is
What can make today great? – same as above, I believe
What would make today great? – That is, what am capable of doing that if I did it would possibly result in an outcome of “great”…
Thoughts?
hi,
if i say i would give her the money tomorrow .. am i correct or wrong
It’s sounds better to say “I will give her the money tomorrow.”
Since it’s what you expect (or promised)
– If you are giving someone your advice that he should “give her money” and you certainly meet her tomorrow, then your sentence is right, like “If I were you, I would give her the money tomorrow”
– If you just want to give her your money, you should say “I will give her the money tomorrow”
Thanks for describing would
Thank you so much.my suggestion pl gv more examples.
Regards
Veerabadran GUNA
i thought “will u help me out pls” is the correct answer since its an offer not “would you help me out pls”
I have been looking for a book that will explain cultural context of the Scriptures, from people’s review of the book online I believe this book will help out.
Am I correct or wrong
I would think “..I believe this book would help.” is more likely to be used by an English speaker. “will” would be too direct.
i enjoyed the conversation
Plz help me… I wanna know which one is correct and what’s the difference between these two
When will you come or when would you come ….
which one is correct and why ??? plz explain it…
What’s the difference between
how would you go and how will you go…..and which one is correct and why… Plz help me na I’m so confused…
Is it correct to say
He would really care for you instead of he cares for you
How will you impress my presents or how would you impress my parents . which one is correct
I was raised to ask people in the manner of
Would you do this for me
And told it in proper English and rude to say because it’s pushy
Will you do this for me
It does seem more condescending and or pushy to be told will you versus would you… Comments?
Pls this two statements which one is correct ; Will u be going somewhere today , and Would u be going somewhere today ?
Very good but you forget to mention one thing. Would is used as past tense of will in indirect speech. Please add this with some good examples.
Hello.Thank you for a great help of yours.I do have a question,can we use ‘would ‘when we want to talk about some thing possible in the future?or when talking about some thing that’s likely to happen or exist in the future?
For example,Is this correct:great teachers would teach holistically or I’d be a great teacher.
You can use “would” in those sentences, but if it’s something expected to actually happen, then “will” is better.
For example: If you’re talking about a group of inadequate teachers that do not currently teach holistically and comparing them to hypothetical ‘great teachers’ then use “would”. Or if you are currently a babysitter and are envisioning how you would be as a teacher, then “I would be a great teacher.” But if you are starting a new teaching job next week, and are committing to success then “I will be a great teacher.”
Could you please tell me is it correct to ask “how would be your life without me” if i am intended to ask about the possibility ???
plz answer to these question….with what would you like to associate Robert hutching Goddard?
What is the defference between, “i will tell you” and “i would tell you” please explain
It’s an amazing post for all the web viewers; they will take advantage from it I am sure.
The difference between ‘I will tell you and I would tell you’
I will tell you= means you’re certainly going to tell her/him in a particular range of time
I would tell you= means you would tell her only if some conditions are met (uncertain)
Thoughts??
Useful info. Lucky me I found your site unintentionally, and I am stunned why this coincidence did not happened earlier!
I bookmarked it.