Questions tagged [will-would]

This tag is for questions asking about difference between two auxiliary verbs: will and would. Questions that only have to do with one of them can also use this tag, because the two modal verbs share a lot in common and can be easily confused.

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"will" vs. "would"

Intentionally long-winded sentence for the sake of grammar reviewing If you wish for me to talk about every figure of rhetoric there is in the same breath, I would have to tell you I couldn't hold it ...
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Before dropping off, the taxi driver says: "That will be 8.50". So, why "That will be ....." instead of "That is ...."

A taxi driver takes his customers where they want. Then when they are there, before dropping them off, the taxi driver says how much they need to pay. For instance he says: "That will be 8 ...
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"She said she won't/wouldn't come to the party”

She said that she won't come to the party. She said she wouldn't come to the party. What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
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Modal verbs: "would" as a guess

I know that "would" can be used in the situations below: A doorbell is ringing. My mother says: It would/will/could/might/may/must be John, I will open the door. "would" here ...
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Is "will" being used for deduction or for future in this sentence: "Of course, you will know all about Hogwarts."

This is from the movie Harry Potter. Harry and a man, who Harry sees for the first time, are talking, and the man thinks that Harry is aware of his own magical powers - that he is a wizard. Harry: ...
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"Would have loved" in the book narration

I'm reading Bloodline by F. Paul Wilson and came across the following snippet: Jack needed to read this. He'd have loved to take it home to pore over, but Bolton would know he'd been invaded when he ...
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Does "would" imply a vague uncertainty to the statement below?

Statement 1: "He would be willing to sign something assessing the liquidated damages of $100,000 to misfit boxing in the event he withdraws." Statement 2: "He will be willing to sign ...
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would vs would have been

In the Soviet Union, bribing government-employed sales clerks to avoid standing in line for scarce items, or just to find out when a shipment of oranges or imported Western shoes would be on sale, was ...
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Why is there a "would" in the if clause, instead of a simple past?: "Decision-making could be easy if you’d think about what’s right for you."

The following sentence is from a text about marriage when to walk away "Besides the pain you get from the betrayal, knowing when to walk away after infidelity is a lot harder to face. However, ...
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Difference between 'would+present' and 'would have+past participle' in these cases

Difference between 'would+present' and 'would have+past participle' in these cases. 1° EXAMPLE: When John was 30, the doctor told him that he wouldn't live/wouldn't have lived past 40. Now he's fifty ...
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Would you enter or will you enter

Let's say I see a person standing infront of a room. I want to ask him if he will enter or not. What would be the correct sentence to use here? Would you enter? Or Will you enter? One more ...
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"Would you be kind enough to answer me?" Or: "Could you kindly answer me?"

Do these two sentences have the same meaning? Which of these phrases sounds more natural? Would you be kind enough to answer me? Or: Could you kindly answer me?
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Why use "would" in this sentence?

I'm a little confused by "would" in this sentence. Speaker A is asking a question, the B's response uses "would". In this sentence, is "would" a past form of "will?&...
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Use of would in first conditionals

If it's someone whose death you don't even have to know about, you still wouldn't push the button? In a sentence of first conditionals, dependant clause is constructed in simple present (1st form of ...
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Why 'would' in this example? [duplicate]

In the Marvin Gaye song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" the refrain is: Ooo I heard it through the grapevine Not much longer would you be mine Ooo I heard it through the grapevine And I'...
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"I'll never allow that to happen." and "I'd never allow that to happen"

"I'd never allow that to happen." This is a phrase from a popular anime, Madoka Magika. What is the difference between "I'll never allow that to happen." and "I'd never allow ...
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Would vs Will: "Would/Will" this be the day/month/year/... questions?

I tried to look this up on Google with no luck. It's confusing to me because some results use present tense while some others use past tense. What's the difference or could I use both? Examples: A) ...
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Meaning of "would"

What is the meaning of "would" in the following sentence: He would sometimes relive the battle in his dreams. Is it about what may happen in the future or about something that used to ...
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What's the difference between "will know", "knew", and "have/has known"?

The excerpt below is taken from Advanced Grammar in Use: We can use will to draw conclusions or state assumptions about things that are the case now. You will know that Ewan and Lucy are engaged. (= ...
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How to know if sentence containing would/could is not a conditional sentence

Do we always use could would in conditional sentences? 1.I would love to go there. 2.It could rain. 3.That would be Daniel. Are all the above sentences 2nd conditionals? How to distinguish between ...
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Questions with would

I'm practicing the use of would and I have a problem with one exercise, I have to put these words in order: would, be, the problem, what and a question mark (?). And now I don't know how to put them. ...
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If + should vs. if + would

In certain clauses, should is used for all three persons: If I/you/he should decide to go, we will need a larger car. If it should begin to snow, we will stay here tonight. Would is not acceptable ...
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Will vs would in the following question [duplicate]

What's the difference between: "I would go on a walk with my friend tonight. " "I will go on a walk with my friend tonight. "
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Would be him vs will be him

Suppose a telephone is ringing and I think that this call is from a specific person, then what will I say? That would be him. That wil be him.
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Would seem versus seem [duplicate]

Is it redundant the use of "would" in the sentence below? The reduction in blood pressure induced by long-term CR would seem to involve positive systemic and cellular adaptations. Can I ...
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Would usage in past tense

I have read this in "The Hindu" newspaper of India But in 1879 he would hit the jackpot as it were and bring out the blockbuster that would reverberate across the world. Why would is used ...
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Will and would in the same sentence

I have read this article in a Indian newspaper "The Hindu" The minority scholarship quota for Muslims will be reduced drastically from 80% to 58.67% whereas the share of the entire ...
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Will means "it will happen" and Would means "it wouldn't happen"?

Compare will and would: I'll stay a little longer. I've got plenty of time. I'd stay a little longer, but I really have to go now. (so I can't stay longer) I'll call Lisa. I have her number. I'd ...
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WOULD usage for future

I have read this news about a cyclone in "The Hindu" news paper of India Officials at the regional Meteorological centre in Kolkata on sunday issues warnings that squally winds of 40_50 ...
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What is the difference between "will" and "would" in this example?

Here are the examples: The car won't start. The car wouldn't start
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It would have to rain today, of all days!

It would have to rain today, of all days! https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english-spanish/it-would-have-to-rain-today-of-all-days What meaning of would is used here? According to OED, ...
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Will and Would difference in usage [duplicate]

While reading some article I found sentence 1 . Why can't we use will instead of would like in sentence 2? Fast forward to 2020, and the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the UAE and ...
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A question about modals

What is the difference in meaning between: Would the boss cancel the meeting? Will the boss cancel the meeting? When should one use first, and when second?
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Will _ would and Can_Could differences

I read the below article in "The Hindu" newspaper: The state government has imposed restrictions on gatherings with immediate effect. Only 50 persons would be allowed at gatherings. The ...
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Assuming yesterday I met your brother, I would say

Person A: What is the meaning of "bump into someone"? Person B: If I met your brother somewhere unexpectedly, I would say, "I bumped into him yesterday." Here I'm only interested ...
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Would be Vs Will be

With India administering 30_40 lakh doses dialy, this suggests that existing stocks would be available for 10_13 days, though there is a considerable variation within the states in the number of doses ...
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Difference between "difficult to believe that the situation {would/will} return to normal"

While reading a newspaper, I found this sentence Even if an argument is put forward that many of today's excesses do not reflect long term reality, It is difficult to believe that the situation would ...
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"I would make sure your future {will/would} be bright" - what is the difference?

What is the difference between these two sentences? I would make sure your future will be bright. I would make sure your future would be bright. I understand that the first would signify conditions ...
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I would, but I have an important meeting

Can we use "would" in the sense of but I/we/he won't? For example: Person A: Can you come with me for shopping this evening? Person B: I would, but I have an important meeting to attend. (...
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if I had enough money, I could buy a 20-room mansion

In the morning, person A says: if my leg were not injured, I would attend the party tonight. if I knew his home address, I could go to his house to meet him tonight. if I had enough money, I could ...
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I'd like/want to come, but

Friend: John, can you come to the party tonight? John: Sorry, no. I'd like to come, but my mum's very ill and I have to look after her. John: Sorry, no. I want to come, but my mum's very ill and I ...
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This would be entirely appropriate if her not having come had strained their relationship

While answering a certain question, someone (a native speaker) writes: "My sister came over last night. She'd been promising to come for weeks, and she finally came." "My sister came ...
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Will vs Would usage in sentences

1)So as promised by me , I would be doing it for you. 2)So as promised by me , I will be doing it for you. A person said first sentence to me , when I did the work he asked. What happens if he used ...
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"WOULD" in the same clause as "IF"

I heard this sentence and I thought if it was possible that 'would" could be in the same clause as 'if', I mean I've read that it's possible if 'would' conveys "willingness?" But in ...
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"would" can be used to express the degree of certainty? Or it is always used under hypothetical condition?

I am wondering about "would" can be also used to express the degree of certainty. Not any website shows any example sentences using "would" to express the degree of certainty only ...
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Different usages of "will" and "would" [closed]

Mechanical testing provides information about the suitability of a material for its intended application to help companies design products that will perform as expected. Does "will" here ...
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Use and meaning of WOULD

Could you please explain me what is the use and the meaning of WOULD in this sentence? “It’s very odd that he WOULD HAVE BEHAVED rudely to you”. Thank you! Francesca
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I was watching a video on youtube and in that video a sentence was spoken. "This video would be different."

Why is "would" used in this video. (on 00:00:28) https://youtu.be/1mHjMNZZvFo
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"I could meet you" vs "I can meet you" & "I would meet you" vs "I will meet you"

Is it true that "could" is generally referred to talk about past possibilities? If so, why? We say "I could meet you tomorrow". Why can't we just say "I can meet you tomorrow.&...
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It would be or will look

Which of the following is correct? Put these sunglasses on – then it would look more realistic. Put these sunglasses on – then it will look more realistic.