Question:
Jahanzib Khan writes: What is the difference between
WILL and WOULD? How and when should
we use these?
Answer:
Dear Jahanzib,
Thank you for your question. It
centers on modal auxiliaries – words
that come before, and change the
meaning of the main verb in English
sentences. When you study
WILL
and WOULD, be sure that you
have a strong understanding of the
main verb.
it centers on: (tu pregunta)
se centra o está relacionada con;
modal auxiliaries: los
auxiliares modales; change the
meaning: cambian el significado;
of the main verb: del verbo
principal; be sure that you have:
asegúrate de que tienes; a strong
understanding: una sólida
comprensión;
Grammar books often call WILL
the base or present form and
WOULD the past form.
However, modals do not always
connect to exact ideas about present
and past time.
the base or present form: la
forma base (infinitivo del verbo) o
presente; however: sin
embargo; do not always connect to:
no siempre se relacionan con;
Consider these two examples. The
main verb is GO.
consider: analiza;
I WILL GO to the store tomorrow.
Yo IRÉ a la tienda mañana..
I WOULD GO to the store, but my
car isn’t working!
Yo IRÍA a la tienda pero mi auto ¡no
funciona!
The first statement suggests a
future action, while the second
statement suggests a wish about a
present situation.
statement: oración;
suggests: sugiere; while:
mientras que; a wish about:
un deseo acerca de;
For now, let us leave aside these
issues and explore a few clear ways
English speakers use WILL
and WOULD.
for now: por ahora, por el
momento; lt us leave aside:
dejemos a un costado; these
issues: estos problemas; and
explore: y exploremos; a few
clear ways: unas pocas formas
claras (en las que los);
WILL
WILL can mark future time,
as in the example you heard earlier:
can mark future time: puede
indicar tiempo futuro; you heard
earlier: (que) escuchaste más
arriba;
I WILL go to the store tomorrow.
Yo IRÉ a la tienda mañana..
But it also has other uses, as in:
but it also has other uses:
pero también tiene otros usos; as
in: como en (este ejemplo);
The reason my friend has done so
well in business is that he WILL NOT
INVEST not
invest in risky companies.
La razón por la cual a mi amigo le
ha ido tan bien en los negocios es
que él NO INVIERTE en compañías de
riesgo.
That statement suggests a general
policy or rule that has been in
place for a long time.
general policy or rule: norma
de comportamiento o modo de
manejarse; that has been in place
for a long time: que se ha
mantenido por largo tiempo;
WILL can also be used for
commands, as in:
can also be used for commands:
también puede usarse para órdenes;
You WILL FINISH your homework!
¡TERMINA/TIENES QUE TERMINAR tus
deberes!
WOULD
WOULD often suggests a wish
or desire about a present situation.
For example:
often suggests: a menudo
suguiere;
a wish or desire:
un anhelo o deseo;
I wish it WOULD STOP snowing.
OJALÁ DEJARA de nevar.
WOULD can also be used for
polite requests, as
in:
for polite requests:
para comentarios (pedidos o
sugerencias) amables;
What WOULD YOU LIKE to eat?
¿Qué TE GUSTARÍA comer?
Or:
Excuse me, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TELL
ME where the train station is?
¿Disculpa, ¿PODRÍAS INDICARME dónde
se encuentra la estación?
GENERAL IDEAS
Think of WILL and WOULD
as family members, perhaps sisters.
WILL, the strong, firm
sister, is often used for commands
or actions. Would, the quieter, softer
one, is used more for expressing
dreams, wishes, possibilities and
polite requests.
think of: piensa en (not "think
in");
as family members: como
integrantes de una familia;
perhaps sisters: quizás hermanas;
WILL, the strong sister: WILL,
la hermana rígida o estricta;
WOULD, the quieter, softer one:
WOULD, la más tranquila y flexible;
dreams: sueños;
This comparison is not perfect. But,
it does provide a general idea about
the difference between WILL
and WOULD.
comparison: comparación;
but it does provide: pero
realmente ofrece;
When you read news stories or listen
to English speakers, pay careful
attention to how they use WILL
and WOULD. With time, you
WILL DEVELOP a stronger
understanding of these difficult
words. And that WOULD MAKE US all cheer!
news stories: historias de
noticias; pay careful attention:
presta cuidadosa atención; to how
they use: a cómo ellas utilizan;
with time: con el tiempo; you
WILL DEVELOP: desarrollarás;
a stronger understanding: una
comprensión más sólida; and that
WOULD MAKE US all cheer: y eso
NOS HARÍA FELICES a todos.
And that’s Ask a Teacher!
I’m John Russell.
