Distinguishing Between Will & Would

Will vs Would

The primary distinction between the terms will and would lies in the tenses they are used in. Will is employed in the future tense, while would serves as the past tense form of the verb will. In addition to tense, these words convey other meanings in various contexts. For instance, the Oxford English Dictionary states that the phrase “will do” showcases someone’s willingness to execute a request or suggestion, albeit informally.

What does Will mean?

Will pertains to the future tense, as demonstrated in the following examples:
– He will come tomorrow.
– She will write to me next week.
In both cases, the verb will indicates that something is predicted to occur in the future. Additionally, will can be used to express certainty, as shown in the sentences below:
– He will do it for sure.
– She will make it without a doubt.

What does Would mean?

Would is used as the past tense of will to discuss past beliefs about future events. Consider the following examples:
– She would not write to me.
– He would be gone.
These sentences refer to past expectations about what would transpire. Furthermore, would can be used to describe habitual past actions, such as in the sentences below:
– When we were young, we would often play in the barn.
– Every Christmas, we would make dinner together as a family.
In these cases, would communicates actions that were regularly performed in the past. Additionally, would can be followed by the auxiliary verb “have,” as demonstrated in the examples below:
– He would have come today.
– She would have won the game.

Key Takeaways

• Will is used in the future tense, while would serves as the past tense form of the verb will.
• Will can be used to express certainty, while would can be used to convey past beliefs about future events or habitual actions in the past.
• Would can sometimes be followed by the auxiliary verb “have.”