will | TKG English Learner's Dictionary

willmodal verb

American /wɪl/ British /wɪl/ also /əl/ the weak, contracted form after a pronoun, written 'll, as in I'll, she'll

Also: won't (the negative contraction of will not)

very commondefining vocabulary

Will talks about the future, shows willingness or a decision made at the moment of speaking, makes a request, or describes what someone always does.

the futureused to say what happens or is true in the future
The ordinary way to talk about the future in English, for a prediction or a simple statement of fact.
verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]
- It will be sunny tomorrow. V + inf
- She will be twenty next month. V + inf
- They will arrive at noon. V + inf
- I won't be at work tomorrow. V + inf (negative)
Synonyms shall
Compare shall (shall is a more formal alternative to will, mainly with I and we); would (would is the past and hypothetical form of will); go
willingness; decided nowused to show that someone is willing to do something, or decides to do it at the moment of speaking
Different from a plan made earlier: will here marks a decision, offer, or promise made right as the speaker is talking.
verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]
- I'll carry that bag for you. V + inf (offer)
- I'll have the soup, please. V + inf (decision made now, as with a waiter)
- I promise I'll write every week. V + inf (promise)
Compare would (would shows willingness in a past or hypothetical situation)
requestsused in a question to ask someone to do something
Direct and everyday; would is a more polite alternative.
verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]
- Will you close the door, please? V + inf
- Will you help me carry these boxes? V + inf
Compare would (would you...? is a more polite way to make the same request)
what always happensused to describe what someone or something always does, or what is generally true
Describes something that is generally true or a fixed characteristic, not a single future event.
verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]
- Oil will float on water. V + inf
- Accidents will happen. V + inf
- Boys will be boys. V + inf
1. aused, with heavy stress, to say in an annoyed way that someone always does something, often something unwanted
  - He WILL interrupt people, and it drives me crazy.
  - She WILL leave her shoes right in the hallway.

Phrases

Usage

Will and going to both talk about the future, but they are not identical: going to is common for a plan already made before speaking (I'm going to visit my parents this weekend), while will more often marks a decision made at the moment of speaking, a promise, or a simple prediction. In fast speech, will almost always contracts to 'll after a pronoun (I'll, we'll, they'll).

Common mistakes

I will to call you tomorrow. I will call you tomorrow.
A modal such as will is followed by the base form of a verb without to.

When she will arrive, we will start. When she arrives, we will start.
Will is not normally used in a when or if clause about the future; use the present tense there instead (an exception is will showing willingness: if you will just sign here).

See also would (the past and hypothetical form of will); shall

For translators

Grammar trap Will is a modal: it takes the base form of a verb with no to, adds no -s, and has no infinitive or -ing form of its own. It is not normally used in a when or if clause about the future, where English uses the present tense instead, except to show willingness or insistence.