What is difference between will and would
by Yogi P - October 19, 2023
Difference between Will and Would
When it comes to English, two of the most commonly confused words are will and would. To the untrained eye, they seem to be two entries in a list of interchangeable words, but they actually have subtle yet distinct differences.
In this article, we’ll look closer at these two words, so you can be sure that you’re using them in the right context.
Will
Will is a modal verb used to express willingness, consent, or to talk about future events. It’s often used with its negative form, won’t, to indicate refusal or denial. For example, if you were to make an offer and someone responds with “I won’t do it”, that would be a clear expression of their refusal.
It can also be used to express a prediction about a future event. For example, “It will rain this afternoon” is a statement about a likely future event.
Would
Like will, would is a modal verb and it is used when talking about the past and future. It can be used to express a past habit or an unrealised possibility. For example, “I would go running every morning before work” is a statement that refers to a past habit, while “I would like to move to the country, but I can’t” is a statement about an unrealised possibility.
Table Summarising the Difference between Will and Would
| Word | Will | Would |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Expresses willingness, consent, or talks about future events | Expresses past habit or unrealised possibilities |
| Usage | Express refusal or denial in the negative (won’t) or predict future events | Express habits and endurance in the past, politeness, or polite requests |
| Examples | “I won’t do it” or “It will rain this afternoon” | “I would go running every morning before work” or “I would like to move to the country, but I can’t” |
Difference between Will and Would – Meaning and Usage
At first glance, will and would may appear to be the same, but in fact, there is an important distinction that dictates their usage. For example, while will is almost always used to talk about the future, would is largely used to talk about the past.
In addition, would tends to be used more to express politeness, formality, and willingness, while will is used when making requests or offering advice. In other words, will is used to talk about intentions and preferences, while would is used to talk about habits and endurance.
Examples of Difference Between Will and Would
To further illustrate the difference between these two words, consider these examples:
- I won’t be attending the party tonight.
- We’ll have to catch a bus if we want to arrive on time.
- I would always be up early to go to school when I was a child.
- Would you mind closing the window?
Overview of difference between “will” and “would”
| Aspect | Will | Would |
|---|---|---|
| Verb Mood | Modal verb | Modal verb |
| Tense | Simple future tense | Conditional (or past polite) mood |
| Formation | Subject + will + base form of the verb | Subject + would + base form of the verb |
| Example | She will come tomorrow. | She would come if she could. |
| Usage | Indicates a future action or event | Used for hypothetical situations, polite requests, and reported speech |
| Politeness | Generally less polite than “would” | Often used to make polite requests or soften direct statements |
| Hypothetical | Used for more factual or direct statements | Used for hypothetical or less certain situations |
In the first two sentences, the word will is used to express refusal or to predict a future event. In the last two sentences, the word would is used to express a past habit and/or a polite request.
Activity to Enhance Understanding
To practice using these words correctly, why not try and find further examples of their usage? Pick some of your favorite books, articles, or TV shows, and go through them to find examples of when these words are used. Can you determine where they fit within the context of the writing? Are there any other subtle nuances to their usage that you can identify?
Conclusion
Will and would are two words that are often confused and misused, but it’s important to understand the subtle distinctions between them. Will is generally used to express willingness, refusal, or predict future events, while would is used to express politeness, formality, or talk about past habits.
If you keep this in mind, you can be sure to use these words properly in any given context.
