Modals - Will / Would: Intent, Expectation, Refusal and Disappointment

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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.)

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.

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?

Select a response. The correct answer will appear in the text box.
An incorrect answer will show an *asterisk.

#	MODAL SENTENCE	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
1.	We are going to do our best.	We are promising to do so. We are scheduled to do so We predict that we will.	Answer1:
2.	We were going to do our best.	we did our best . we intended to, but failed we only thought about doing our best	Answer2:
3.	Jack would have helped us make a CD . . .	and he did help us . and he will help us . but he didn't have time.	Answer3:
4.	We are getting a new car in September.	this event is scheduled this event is our planned intent	Answer4:
5.	My boss wouldn't give me more vacation time.	he didn't intend to. he refused to he didn't schedule it	Answer 5:

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