Past form of the verb will. Modal verbs. Meaning and usage

The verb would in English is used:

1. As an auxiliary verb for education verb forms Future in the Past (future in the past) in the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural(instead of the verb will).

He says he will come to see me tomorrow.
He says that (he) will visit me tomorrow.

BUT:
Not said(that) he would come next day.
He said he would visit me the next day

He said he would come early.
He said he would come early.

2. To express a strong desire to refuse to perform an action. In relation to inanimate objects, would in these cases expresses resistance to human efforts.

Not wouldn't go to the doctor.
He doesn't want to go to the doctor for anything.

I tried to close the case but it wouldn't.
I tried to close the suitcase, but it wouldn't close.

In expressions:

a) would like instead of the verb want ( to want) in the present tense to express a more polite form.

I would like to see you. I would like to see you.
I would like an (some) ice-cream. I would like ice cream.

b) would like in interrogative sentences to express an offer of something, an invitation to something.

Would you like to try on this hat?
Would you like to try on this hat?

Would you like a well-done steak?
Would you like a well-roasted steak?

Would you like another cup of coffee?
(Would you like) another cup of coffee? (Want to…?)

in) would care instead of the verb want (want) in the meaning of the present tense, but only in interrogative and negative sentences.

Would you care to see my etchings?
Do you want to see my engravings?

Would you care to have some more tea?
Would you like some more tea?

G) if only + would to express regret for an action that was not taken.

If only he would drive more slowly.
If only he drove slower.

If only she would go by train.
If only she had taken the train.

3. As a modal verb in the following cases:

a) to express intention, desire.

Didn't say he would lend me some money to buy a car.
He said he would lend me money to buy a car.

BUT: In the affirmative form, if would expresses intention, it is used in a subordinate clause.

I said that I would help him.
I said I would help him.

In the negative form, would is used independently in the sense of unwillingness to do something - wouldn't (often with a hint of "for nothing", "under no pretext").

I wouldn't lend him money to buy a car.
I don't want to lend him money to buy a car. (I refused…)

He wouldn't come to see me. (He refused to come.)
He didn't want to visit me. (He refused to come.)

b) to express the repetition of an action or persistence.

Not would wait for me at the corner of our house.
He used to wait for me at the corner of our house. (Or: And he (but he) was still waiting for me on the corner of our house.- Depending on the context.)

c) to express a polite request.

Would you show me that suit?
Please, show me that suit over there.

Would you tell where is the nearest underground station?
Can you tell me where the nearest metro station is?

Modal verb will play an important role in English language, giving sentences a certain meaning and emotional coloring. However, in many cases it can be confused with the use of other modals, so you need to be clear about the use of will.

First of all, it should be noted that it is very often used in sentences with polite orders, and they are still softened by the word please, but they still remain orders, not a request.

Related articles from other authors:

Will you make us tea, please? - Please make us some tea.

Will you be quiet, please? - Silence please.

However, here you need to follow the place of using the word please, because if it is placed not at the end, but in the middle of a sentence, then it acquires an irritated connotation, and this is no longer a polite order, but a remark.

Will you please be quiet! - Yes, you calm down!

Will you please type these letters for me! - Print me these letters already!

In some cases, will can characterize a request, but only in an informal setting.

Will you pass me the cake, please. - Pass me the cake, please.

However, in modern English such sentences are quite rare, most people still begin a phrase with the verbs would or could.

Also, the modal verb will is used to give sentences other emotional overtones, such as desire, agreement, determination, promise, and suggestion. In the last case will it is used if this assumption is highly probable, and the translation uses the turns “apparently” and “should be”.

It will have been a teacher. Apparently it's a teacher. / It must be the teacher. (Assumption.)

She will help you. She will help you. (Promise.)

We will do by our own way. - We'll do it our way. (Determination.)

If the modal verb will is used in negative sentences, then in terms of meaning they convey a stubborn unwillingness to perform any action. Moreover, such a refusal can apply not only to people, but also to things. As for the differences with the use of won't and wouldn't, it consists only in the fact that the latter form is used in the past tense.

The lamp will not turn. - The lamp does not turn on at all.

The car won't start. - The car wouldn't start.

In some cases, the use of the negative form requires confirmation of the context. Moreover, the confirming sentence can stand both before the one in which will is used, and after it.

I have asked Ann many times. She won't answer. I have asked Anya many times. She refuses to answer.

I tried to convince her, but she won't agree to make it again. I tried to talk her into it, but she didn't want to do it again.

The weather won't change. It kept snowing. “The weather hasn't changed at all. It continued to snow.

Undoubtedly, the affirmative and negative forms of the modal verb will give the sentence a completely opposite semantic coloring. It is worth remembering that they are used in the present tense, and can be consistent with different tenses, as well as confirmed by contextual phrases. In any case, the verb will as a modal is firmly established in English grammar, and is now used quite often, so you need to know the nuances of its use.

The verb will in English has two functions - a modal verb and an auxiliary verb, which is used to form the future tense. And it is not at all accidental that one verb performs these two, seemingly so different, functions. The fact is that in modern English the future tense always carries some additional connotation: either necessity, or coercion, or wish. What is usually conveyed by a modal verb.

Will as a modal verb

The modal verb will means in English the resolve or agreement of the speaker to perform some action. In this meaning, the modal verb will is used only in affirmative sentences.
Examples:

We will help you.
We will help you. (we promise to help)

I don't like this job but I will work.
I don't like this job, but I will work. (agreement)

In interrogative sentences, the verb will adds politeness to the question or makes a polite request.
For example:

Will you repeat open the door?
Could you open the door?

In negative sentences, the presence of will indicates perseverance and perseverance in performing an action:

The plane will not take off.
The plane doesn't take off.

Will as an auxiliary verb

How to build sentences correctly

with the modal verb will?

As with other modal verbs, in affirmative sentences, the modal verb will is placed immediately after the subject, and the semantic verb immediately follows will. For example:

We will help you.
We will help you.

Here we (we) is the subject, help (to help) is the semantic verb.

The presence of the modal verb will allows you to do without the auxiliary verb do :

in interrogative sentence will is placed before the subject;
in a negative sentence, the particle not is placed immediately after will.

Sentences in which will is used as an auxiliary verb follow the same rules.

Modal verb would

In addition, the verb would can act as an auxiliary verb in the formation of the tense future in the past. You can read more about this function of the verb would in the article.

The verb wil is one of the fundamental verbs in English. Let us analyze in detail how the interrogative and negative form of the sentence is formed using the verb will. Consider the main grammatical rules in order to correctly use this verb in speech.

What does the verb will mean

Will is a modal English verb. This means that it is not only independent, but also helps other verbs to indicate their form and tense.

For example, the non-modal verb say in the infinitive is used with the particle to: to say. To indicate changes in time, it is necessary to use some form of the verb and, if necessary, modal verbs.

For example:

I say. - I say.

He said. - He said.

He could say. - He could tell.

She will say. - She'll say.

She would say. - She would say.

Wil is used to:

indicate the future tense;
express a promise or intention;
order to do something;
make a polite request or ask a polite question;
indicate persistence in a negative way.

Pay attention to the forms of the verb will. In the past tense will - would. Also would is used as a particle "would".

He would go to the cinema, but he is alone that day.

He would go to the cinema, but he is alone today.

The difference between the verbs will and shall

Previously, the verbs will and shall were used in English equivalently and had the same linguistic functions. The only difference was that shall was used with plural first person pronouns and singular: I (I) and we (we). In all other cases, the verb will was used.

Now this border has been erased, and will can be used with any pronoun. Shall in modern English is used with a proposal to do something. Example:

Shall we go to the cinema?

Let's go to the cinema?

In colloquial speech, the past form of the verb Shall is used in the meaning of "is it worth it." past form Shall - Should, reads like [ɭu: d].

Should I go to the cinema?

Negative form of will

Let's analyze the forms of the verb will with examples.

The negative form will is used in both interrogative and affirmative sentences. In the case of interrogative questions, it is also important to take into account the type of sentence, which will be discussed later.

To put in negative form the verb will, you must add the particle not after it.

I will not go for a walk tomorrow.

I won't go for a walk tomorrow.

Will not can also be shortened to won't. This form is pronounced as . Not to be confused with the pronunciation of the verb want:.

He will not read this book. = He won't read this book.

They will not study before the exam.

Thus, the negative form of will is formed.

Interrogative form will: general and W-question

To put the verb will into the interrogative form, you do not need to add anything to it. If the question belongs to the category of General Questions - questions that require the answer "yes" or "no", then it is necessary to put the verb will in the first place.

Will he talk to us today?

Note! One of the most common mistakes Russian speakers make in English is using speak with somebody instead of speak to somebody. The correct option is Speak TO somebody.

In the so-called W-questions, the verb will is not used in the question. By the way, W-questions are questions that require a detailed answer, and not just "yes" or "no". This category of questions received such a name, since they mainly begin with the following words:

What (What).
Who (Who).
Why (Why).
When (When).
Where (Where).
How (How).
How much (How much) and the like.

Most question words start with English letter W.

Questions in this case are built according to the standard grammar rule, and will is used as part of a sentence.

For example:

When will you eat your cake?

When will you eat your pie?

Where will she sleep?

Note that the verb will is not placed at the beginning of a sentence in W-questions, as is the case with a general question.

Interrogative will: alternative and tag-questions

The name speaks for itself: any offer can be built on the principle of W-questions and on the principle of affirmative sentences.

For example (according to the principle of W-questions):

What will you drink: tea or coffee?

For example (by the principle of affirmative sentences):

Will you drink tea or coffee?

Note! The pronoun you can be translated as both "you" and "you" (both singular and plural).

If the question belongs to the category of Tag Questions - questions with the so-called tail “isn't it?”, Then it is necessary:

Make up an affirmative sentence, to which the conditional tail "isn't it?" will be added.
Determine if the sentence is negative or positive. Negative - if it contains the particle not or other linguistic negations: never, nobody, and so on.
If the sentence is positive, then you need to put the verb Will in a negative form, if the sentence is negative, then Will must be in a positive form.
Add a pronoun from the affirmative sentence to the verb Will.

So put the sentences in the negative form.

You will visit your friends tomorrow, right?

The sentence You will visit your friends tomorrow is positive, since the particle not and other indicators of negation are absent, therefore will is in the negative form in the tail.

She won't start doing her homework this week, will she?

The sentence She won't start doing her homework this week is negative, since the particle not (won't = will not) is present, so the verb will is in the positive form.

Please note that when translating into Russian, the tail "isn't it so" can be replaced with similar expressions that are suitable in meaning and context.

You won't stop shouting, will you?

You won't stop screaming, right?

They will go to sleep later, won't they?

They'll go to bed later, right?

Be sure to take into account the context.

That bridge will be so happy with him, won't she?

Translation of "That bride will be happy with him, right?" appropriate in a friendly conversation, but if the phrase is used in the context of a social event, then it is better to say "That bride will be happy with him, right?".

Conclusion

Putting the verb will into an interrogative or negative form is easy if you know the rules of English grammar. In fact, they resemble a simple formula in which you need to substitute the right words.

For those who have a linguistic flair, this will be easier to do.

Frequent practice, communication or watching movies in English will strengthen your language sense.

will And would are used to express the will of the speaker, his intention and perseverance. Verbs after will And would used without particle to.

Will used to express the present and future tense, and would- past or to express politeness. As a rule, they are distinguished by intonation or translated by the verb " to want».

Past	The present	Future
Would	Will / Would	Will
You knew I would do it anyway. You knew I wanted to do it anyway.	I like it and I will buy it! I love it and I want to buy it!
	Would you mind my sitting here? Do you mind if I sit here?

Will

You don't like it but I will buy it.
You don't like it, but I intend to buy it (anyway).

Statement

In affirmative sentences, modal verbs will And would almost never used with subject, expressed pronoun You(you you).

Intention
We like this place that is why we will stay here! We like this place so we will stay here!
Ann didn't have enough money but she would buy this dress anyway. Ann didn't have enough money, but she still wanted to buy this dress.

persistence
You don't want to hear but I will say it anyway. You don't want to hear it, but I'll say it anyway.
Matt asked not to sing loudly but Jack would do it. Matt asked not to sing loudly, but Jack kept doing it.

Verb would used in construction I would like..(I would like to...), which expresses a desire or a polite request.

I would like a cup of coffee.– I would like a cup of coffee.
I would like to ask you for some help.“I would like to ask you for help.
I would like to know whether this shop is still open. I would like to know if this store is still open.

Negation

In negative sentences with modal verbs will And would usually used in first and third person. Particle not placed after will And would.

It is hard but we will not give up. It's hard, but we don't give up.
You can try but she will not speak to you. You can try, but she won't (won't) talk to you.

He begged me but I would not change my mind. He begged me, but I didn't change my mind.
Paul was wet enough but he wouldn't change. Paul was quite wet, but he didn't want to change.

with inanimate objects will not or would not are used to show that these items are not doing their job or their purpose.

will not = won't (abbreviation)
I want to enter but the door won't open.- I want to go in, but the door won't open.

would not = wouldn't
I was in a hurry but my car wouldn't start up. I was in a hurry, but my car didn't want to start.

Question

Modal verbs will And would with subject, pronounced pronoun You are used to create polite questions. Wherein would more polite than will, and is often used in the design would you like..?(would you like to..? would you like to..?).

Will you have a cup of coffee?– Would you like a cup of coffee?
Would you pass me some bread please?- Could you pass me some bread, please?

Would you like some wine?- Would you like some wine?
What would you like to drink, madam? What would you like to drink, madam?

Features of use

Verbs will And would combine the modal meaning (desire, intention) with the function of the auxiliary verb of the future ( will) and elapsed time ( would). However, modal verbs will And would most often used with the first person, expressing the intention, desire of the speaker, or with the second person in polite questions.

Will not have

I would prefer to stay at home.- I'd rather stay at home.
I would prefer not to say it.“I'd rather not say that.
Would you prefer me to have lie?“Would you prefer me to lie?” (but at that moment I did not lie)

would prefer to = 'd prefer to (abbreviation)
I 'd prefer my best friend to go abroad with me.- I would like my best friend went abroad with me. ing me a cup of coffee? – Could you bring me a cup of coffee?
Would you mind Jack 's sitting here? Do you mind if Jack sits here?

Design I wouldn't mind expresses agreement with something.

I wouldn't mind if you came with me.“I don't mind if you come with me.
I wouldn't mind getting you a cup of coffee. I don't mind bringing you a cup of coffee.
I wouldn't mind your telling them this story.“I don’t mind if you tell them this story.