ENGLISH SYNTAX I

Unit V – Part IV
FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA Y LETRAS - UNT
 MEANINGS AND USES OF WILL

1. Prediction/Predictability
a. Future prediction
b. Forecast about the present
c. Past prediction
d. General or habitual prediction
e. Predictable or characteristic behaviour
f. Disposition / inherent capacity
2. Volition
a. Willingness (weak volition)
b.Intention (intermediate volition)
I.Promise
II. Threat
III. Instant decision
c. Determination, insistence or persistence (strong volition)
 Meanings and uses of will

3.Quasi imperative: orders

4.Command (in questions)
5.Offer
6.Making Invitations
7. Request
1. Prediction/Predictability <very common>
Normally unstressed and it may be contracted to ′ll.
a. Future prediction
Usually ‘will’ with this meaning makes reference to the future:
You will feel better after you take this medicine.
But there is also a kind of prediction that refers to the present or to the past. ‘Will’ (=prediction)
belongs to contexts similar to those of ‘must’ (=logical necessity). In fact, ‘must’ could replace
'will’ in the following examples with little change of effect.
b. Forecast about the present
We make confident predictions about the present based on our knowledge or previous
experience (or current expectations). The speaker makes a forecast about the present,
concerning an event not directly observable:
That will be the plumber. I’m expecting him to call about some work.
[on hearing the doorbell ring]
 c. Past prediction.
We use ‘will have + perfect infinitive’ to refer to something which we feel certain has
happened (but do not actually) know.
By now, he will have finished his work. [I am sure he finished his work.]
Don’t telephone them now. It’s midnight. They will have gone to bed.
[I am nearly certain that they went to bed some time ago.]
d. General or habitual predictions
‘Will’ with a third-person subject can refer to general things or to the qualities of things.
Describes natural tendency. Common in scientific or quasi-scientific statements. It is
comparable with the Simple Present in its ‘unrestrictive’ and ‘habitual’ senses.- Water will boil at
100⁰ C. It won’t boil under 100⁰C. [It is predictable that water boils at 100⁰ C. It does not boil
under 100⁰C.]
Birds will build nests. [Birds have a natural tendency to build nests.]
 e. Predictable or characteristic behaviour
‘Will’ may be used to refer to a characteristic or persistent pattern of
behaviour or of events. We use ‘will’ / ‘won’t’ to talk about actions that
have become so routine that they are predictable.
• Beth will seat and look at the sea for hours.[She often did so in the past
and I’m sure she’ll go on doing it.]
Every afternoon she will take her children to the park.
[She always takes her children to the park in the afternoon.]
f. Disposition / Inherent capacity
To talk about the characteristics of capacity or ability. It is closely connected
with the possibility sense of ‘can’. ‘Will’ can suggest ‘has the capacity
to’.That container will hold 100 m3.
[One can put 100 m3 in the container.]
Will that window open? [Can one open that window?]
2. Volition
a.Willingness Weak volition <Quite common> ‘Will’ may express
willingness on the part of the person referred to by the speaker.
unstressed and can be reduced to ′ll.
• If you don’t have enough time, I will help you to book the flight
tickets.[I’m willing / prepared to help you to book the flight tickets.]
• My husband will take you to the airport.[He is willing to take you to
the airport.]
• b. Intention Intermediate volition <Common>
‘Will’ occurs mainly with 1stperson subjects (except in direct
speech) and it is frequently contracted to ′ll. It can convey: a
promise, a threat, and a decision. The fulfilment of the intention
is guaranteed
i. Promise I’ll reward the person who finds my dog.
[I promise to give a reward to the person who finds my dog.]
I promise I won’t be late tomorrow.[I promise you to be on time tomorrow.]
II Threat
• You’ll suffer for this! Threat [I threaten to make you suffer.]
I’ll punish you if you do that again. Threat
• Don’t jump from that rock!! You’ll get hurt!! Warning
I’ll stop your pocket money if you don’t improve your marks at school.
• You’ll regret having talked to your father like that!!
III Instant decision
‘The phone is ringing.’ ‘I’ll answer it”. Instant decision
I’ll pass all the subjects this year. Strong intention
[I intend to pass all the subjects this year.]
C.Determination, Insistence or persistence Strong volition
<not common>
‘Will’ may express determination on the part of the speaker or of a third
party. Determination in both the present and the future and persistence or
insistence in the present can be expressed by an emphasized ‘will’ in all
persons.
Strong-volitional ‘will’ is always stressed, and cannot be contracted to ′ll.
With a first-person subject, the speaker expresses his determination to do
something.
• I ′will have my own way. [I am determined to have my own way.]
• I ′will make a fuss and you can’t stop me.
• I ′will finish the subject; no matter what happens in the middle!
• He ′will not be bullied. [I am / he is determined not to be
bullied.]
With second and third person subjects, ‘will’ may indicate obstinate
determination and the feeling of annoyance at some else's obstinacy or
persistent habit is uttermost. We describe an annoying habit.
• No wonder you feel sick. You ′will eat chocolate all day long.
• [You insist on eating chocolate all day long.]
• He ′will slam the door when he comes in. It really makes me angry.
[He keeps (on) slamming the door when he comes in.]
• If you ′will eat so much, no wonder you are fat.
[If you persist in eating so much, no wonder you are fat.]
• ‘I feel sleepy, mum.’ ‘Well, if you ′will stay up the whole night.
There’s no surprise in that.’
 Refusal or Unwillingness
negative the meaning is suggestive of Refusal or Unwillingness to
do something. The emphasis can be placed either on ‘will’ or
on ‘not’.
• That naughty boy will not (or: will not) do as he is told.
[He persists on not doing as he is told. / He refuses to do as he
is told.]
• I won’t listen to you unless you talk sense.
[I refuse to listen to you until you talk sense.]
• Eve won’t speak to Henry
[She refuses to talk to Henry.]
3. Quasi imperative (with second and third person subjects).
Not strongly stressed. This use is common in military-style
orders.
‘will’ is a stronger equivalent of ‘must’ and expresses the will
of the originator of the message rather than the subject. It
implicates that the speaker or writer has so much authority
over the addressee that failure to perform the predicted
action is out of the question. Hence it has military and
despotic associations.
• All staff will leave the building at once.
• Pupils will be for the lecture at 9.00 pm.
• You will do as I say.
4. Giving a command
A command with ‘will’ can sound impolite
• Will you sit down! (Falling intonation)
• Will you be quiet!

5. Offers – Offering things and substances

An offer in the present and the future can be expressed by ‘will’ in the second person.
• Will / Won’t you have a sandwich?
• What will you have to drink?

6. Making or issuing an invitation

• Will you have dinner with me next Saturday? (Rising intonation)
• Will you go for a walk with me?

7. Request – Requesting others to do things for you

This meaning is particularly common in second-person requests.
• Will you switch on the light, please?
• Will you help me with this Maths problem?