How to Use Will and Would: From Basic to Advanced Levels

Will and would are modal verbs that are essential for expressing future actions, possibilities, and hypothetical situations. Understanding the differences between them and knowing when to use each can enhance your communication skills in English. In this guide, we’ll explain how to use will and would at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, providing plenty of examples to illustrate each use.

1. Basic Uses of “Will” and “Would”

At the basic level, will and would are commonly used to talk about future actions and to make requests or offers.

Will for Future Actions

Will is often used to talk about things that will happen in the future or decisions made at the moment of speaking.

Examples:

I will go to the store tomorrow. (Future action)
She will help you with the homework. (Future promise)

Will for Offers and Promises

Will is also used to make promises, offers, or decisions made spontaneously.

Examples:

I will call you when I arrive. (Promise)
Don’t worry, I will help you with your project. (Offer)

Would for Polite Requests

Would is commonly used to make polite requests in basic conversations.

Examples:

Would you pass me the salt, please? (Polite request)
Would you like some coffee? (Offering)

At this level, would is mainly used to show politeness.

2. Intermediate Uses of “Will” and “Would”

At the intermediate level, the uses of will and would expand to include conditional sentences and more nuanced meanings.

Will for Conditional Sentences (First Conditional)

In the first conditional, will is used to describe the result of a real possibility or future condition.

Examples:

If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home.
She will be late if she doesn’t hurry.

This use shows a future consequence based on a present action or condition.

Would for Hypothetical Situations (Second Conditional)

Would is frequently used in second conditional sentences to describe hypothetical or unlikely situations.

Examples:

If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world. (Hypothetical situation)
He would buy a new car if he could afford it. (Unlikely situation)

Would for Offers and Invitations

At this level, would is often used to offer or invite someone to do something in a more polite or formal manner.

Examples:

Would you like to join us for dinner?
Would you like me to help you with that?

This adds a layer of politeness and formality to the request or offer.

3. Advanced Uses of “Will” and “Would”

At the advanced level, will and would are used in even more specific and nuanced ways, especially in indirect speech, wishes, and habitual actions.

Will for Certainty or Predictions

Will is used to express certainty or predictions about the future, based on present evidence or knowledge.

Examples:

That book will be a bestseller. (Prediction)
I’m sure they will succeed in their mission. (Certainty)

Would in Indirect Speech

Would is commonly used in indirect speech to report what someone said or thought in the past.

Examples:

She said she would come to the party. (Reported speech)
I thought he would call me yesterday. (Reported thought)

Would for Repeated Past Actions

Would can describe habitual actions in the past, similar to used to (See also Used to vs Would: What’s the Difference?)

Examples:

When we were kids, we would play outside every evening.
My grandfather would always tell us stories about his travels.

Would for Wishes and Unreal Situations

Would is also used in wishes and unreal situations, especially to express a desire for things that are not happening or are unlikely to happen.

Examples:

I wish you would stop making so much noise! (Expressing a wish)
I would love to visit Japan one day. (Expressing desire or wish)

4. How to Use Will and Would

Basic Level:

Will for future actions and spontaneous offers/promises: “I will help you.”
Would for polite requests: “Would you like some tea?”

Intermediate Level:

Will in first conditionals: “If it rains, I will stay inside.”
Would in second conditionals for hypotheticals: “If I had more time, I would learn another language.”
Would for polite invitations: “Would you like to join us?”