Sofia · B1–B2 · grammar sheets
Will / Would
Modal verbs for future, willingness, requests, habits and imaginary situations.
Will and would are the same verb wearing two different jackets. Will points forward — future, promises, instant decisions. Would softens things — polite requests, past habits, imaginary situations. Same form for every subject, and always the base verb after it.
1. Will
Use will mainly for the FUTURE.
- Iwill
- Youwill
- Hewill
- Shewill
- Itwill
- Wewill
- Theywill
Examples
- • I will go tomorrow.
- • She will call you.
- • They will come soon.
- • We will study tonight.
2. Would
Would is often the past form of will, but it also shows politeness, habit, preference and imaginary situations.
- Iwould
- Youwould
- Hewould
- Shewould
- Itwould
- Wewould
- Theywould
Examples
- • I would help you.
- • She would visit us every Sunday.
- • He would like some tea.
- • They would go if they had time.
3. Quick comparison
WILL
- future action
- promise
- decision at the moment
- willingness
- prediction
WOULD
- polite request
- polite offer
- past habit
- future in the past
- imaginary / conditional situation
- preference
4. Will for Future
- • I will meet you tomorrow.
- • He will join us later.
- • It will rain tonight.
- • They will win the match.
5. Will for Promise / Willingness
- • I will help you.
- • Don't worry, I will support you.
- • She will do it for you.
6. Will for Instant Decision
You decide as you speak — nothing was planned before.
- • The phone is ringing. I will answer it.
- • I am thirsty. I will drink some water.
7. Would for Polite Requests
- • Would you help me?
- • Would you open the window?
- • Would you please explain this?
Note: Would sounds more polite than will.
8. Would for Polite Offer / Invitation
- • Would you like some tea?
- • Would you like to sit here?
- • Would you like to come with us?
9. Would for Past Habit
- • When we were children, we would play outside every evening.
- • My grandfather would tell us stories at night.
10. Would for Future in the Past
- • He said that he would come.
- • She knew that it would be difficult.
- • I thought they would help us.
11. Would in Imaginary / Conditional Sentences
- • I would buy a car if I had money.
- • She would travel more if she had time.
- • If I were you, I would study harder.
12. Negative forms
Will not = Won't
- • I won't go there.
- • She won't agree.
- • They won't come today.
Would not = Wouldn't
- • I wouldn't do that.
- • He wouldn't listen.
- • We wouldn't go without you.
13. Questions
Will
- • Will you come tomorrow?
- • Will she help us?
- • Will it rain today?
Would
- • Would you help me?
- • Would he join us?
- • Would you like some coffee?
14. Most Important Rule
After will / would, always use the BASE FORM (V1).
- Correct
- She will go.
- He would help me.
- Will you come?
- Would she like tea?
- Wrong
- She will goes.
- He would helped me.
- Will you came?
- Would she likes tea?
15. Common mistakes
- He will goes there.
He will go there. - I would went home.
I would go home. - Would you likes tea?
Would you like tea? - She will comes tomorrow.
She will come tomorrow.
16. Memory trick
- Will → future / promise / decision
- Would → polite / past habit / imaginary
17. Bottom summary
- Will + V1 → future action, promise, willingness, prediction
- Would + V1 → polite request, past habit, future in the past, imaginary situation
Complete the phrase — will or would?
Choose the modal, then say the full sentence out loud so I can score it.
I ___ meet you tomorrow at six.
___ you open the window, please?
When we were children, we ___ play outside every evening.
The phone is ringing — I ___ answer it.
If I had money, I ___ buy a car.
She said that she ___ come later.
Don't worry, I ___ support you.
___ you like some coffee?