VOA慢速英语2021--The Difference between Will and Would

Question:

Jahanzib Khan writes:

What is the difference between will and would? How and when should we use these?

Answer:

Dear Jahanzib,

Thank you for your question. It centers on modal auxiliaries¹ – words that come before, and change the meaning of, the main verb² in English sentences. When you study will and would, be sure that you have a strong understanding of the main verb.

Grammar books often call will the base or present form and would the past form. However, modals do not always connect to exact ideas about present and past time.

Consider these two examples. The main verb is go.

I will go to the store tomorrow.

I would go to the store, but my car isn't working!

The first statement³ suggests a future action, while the second statement suggests a wish about a present situation.

For now, let us leave aside these issues⁴ and explore a few clear ways English speakers use will and would.

Will

Will can mark future time, as in the example you heard earlier:

I will go to the store tomorrow.

But it also has other uses, as in:

The reason my friend has done so well in business is that he will not invest⁵ in risky⁶ companies.

That statement suggests a general policy⁷ or rule that has been in place for a long time.

Will can also be used for commands, as in:

You will finish your homework!

Would

Would often suggests a wish or desire about a present situation. For example:

I wish it would stop snowing.

Would can also be used for polite requests, as in:

What would you like to eat?

Or:

Excuse me, would you be able to tell me where the train station is?

General ideas

Think of will and would as family members, perhaps sisters.

Will, the strong, firm sister, is often used for commands or actions.

Would, the quieter, softer one, is used more for expressing dreams, wishes, possibilities and polite requests.

This comparison⁸ is not perfect. But, it does provide a general idea about the difference between will and would.

When you read news stories or listen to English speakers, pay careful attention to how they use will and would. With time, you will develop a stronger understanding of these difficult words. And that would make us all cheer!

If you have a question for our staff of teachers, send it by email to [email protected].

Words in This Story

polite – adj. having or showing good manners⁹ or respect for other people

personality¹⁰ – n. the set of emotional¹¹ qualities, ways of behaving, etc., that makes a person different from other people

1 auxiliaries   

n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员

参考例句：

• These auxiliaries have made our work much easier. 有了这些辅助人员，我们的工作才顺利多了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• In English the future tense is often rendered by means of auxiliaries. 在英语中，将来时常用助动词来表现。 来自辞典例句

2 verb   

n.[语]动词

参考例句：

• The sentence is formed from a verb and two nouns.这句子由一个动词和两个名词构成。
• These are the finite forms of a verb.这些是一个动词的限定形式。

3 statement   

n.陈述；声明；综述

参考例句：

• The government will put out a new statement tomorrow.政府将于明天发布一项新声明。
• Put down your statement in black and white.把你的话用白纸黑字写下来。

4 issues   

（水等的）流出( issue的名词复数 )； 出口； 放出； （特别重要或大众关注的）问题

参考例句：

• Let's start with the more easily addressable issues. 我们先从较容易处理的问题着手。
• Employment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics. 就业和征税是很重要的政治问题。

5 invest   

v.投资；投入(时间等)；授予，赋予

参考例句：

• I have decided to invest in a new car.我已经决定买一辆新汽车。
• The best time to invest is now.现在是投资的最佳时机。

6 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

7 policy   

n.政策，方针，保险单

参考例句：

• This policy is very tough.这个政策是很强硬的。
• The country has always pursued a policy of peace.该国一直奉行和平政策。

8 comparison   

n.比较，对照；比拟，比喻

参考例句：

• They make a comparison of New York to a beehive.他们把纽约比作一个蜂巢。
• This dress is really cheaper by comparison.比较起来，这件衣服确实便宜。

9 manners   

n.礼貌；规矩

参考例句：

• You should mend your manners.你的态度应当纠正。
• His manners are rough,but he is a kind man at heart.他虽然举止粗鲁，但心地善良。

10 personality   

n.个性，人格，名人

参考例句：

• Einstein was a great personality.爱因斯坦是个伟大的人物。
• She has a powerful personality.她有坚强的个性。

11 emotional   

adj.令人动情的；易动感情的；感情(上)的

参考例句：

• Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
• This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。