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Will / Would

Expressing Intent, Expectation, Refusal and Disappointment

 

 

 

Intent vs. Epectation
WILL – INTENT WILL – EXPECTATION

Use will to express determination to do something. (volition)

Use will to indicate that something is scheduled, expected to happen, or is a predictabe, reoccurring event.

Next month, I will get a raise in salary. (I am  determined to do so.)

Next month, I will get a raise. (It's scheduled in my contract.)

I will try harder to achieve my goals. (I am  determined to do so.)

Next month, I will get a raise. (I expect to; I've worked so hard.)

Our team will win the championship!  (We set our minds to it.)

Our team will win the championship!  (We expect to because we've done well so far.)

intent
Calendar

 

 

 

Wouldn't / Would have
WOULD – REFUSAL WOULD HAVE – EXPECTATION LOST

Use would to refer to a refusal  to do something. (negative only)

Use would have to indicate a scheduled or expected event that did not happen – a failed plan, a disappointment.

Last month, my boss wouldn't give me a raise though I asked.

 

Last month, I would have gotten a raise, but our profits went down. (past perfect form is used)

When pressed, I wouldn't give in. (surrender)

I would have retired my job, but I needed more money.

refuse raise business is down

Also see: Would  ( preference, request, habit, excuse)

 

 

 

 

 

Sentence Forms

Word Order

 

 

  AUX. VERB SUBJECT MODAL + VERB BASE SENTENCE COMPLEMENT

  STATEMENT

 

They

will return. (intent)
are returning. (scheduled)
are going to return (intent/scheduled)

 

  QUESTION

Will
Are
Are

they

return
returning
going to to return

Monday?

  NEGATIVE

 

They

won't return.
aren't returning.
are not going to return

 

  ADVERB PLACEMENT

 

They

will finally return
are also returning
are finally going to return

Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

Practice

Identifying Meanings of Future Modals

 

 

 

What is the speaker expressing with the given modal choice?
  1. Select a response.  The correct answer will appear in the text box. 
  2. An incorrect answer will show an *asterisk.

 

# MODAL SENTENCE   YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER

1.

We are going to do our best.

 

2. We were going to do our best.

 

3. Jack would have helped us make a CD . . .

 

4. We are getting a new car in September.

 

5. My boss wouldn't give me more vacation time.

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

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