Page 649 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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willingness and decisions
Will can express the speaker's willingness, or announce a decision. Can somebody help me?- I wUL
There's the doorbell. - I'll go.
Will can express a finn intention, a promise or a threat. I really will stop smoking.
I'll definitely pay you back next week.
I'll kill her for this.
We can use will not or won't to talk about unwillingness or refusal. She won't open the door.
Give me a kiss.-No, I won't.
The car won't start.
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Would not can refer to past refusal. She wouldn't open the door.
For details oflhese uses, see 217.
requests, orders and offers
The car wouldn't start this morning.
We use will you to tell people what to do.
Will you send me the bill, please?
Come this way, will you? Will you be quiet!
Would you is 'softer', more polite. Would you send me the bill, please? Come this way, would you?
Will you .. .? can also be used to ask about people's wishes.
Will you halle some more potatoes? What will you drink?
Won't you ...? expresses a pressing offer. Won't you halle some more wine?
Will can be used in affirmative structures to give impersonal, military-type orders.
All staff will submit weekly progress reports.
6 distancing:/'/1havetoaskyou...
Instructions and orders can be made less direct by 'distancing' (see 436) - for example by using will to displace them into the future.
I'm afraid you'll need to fill in this form.
I'll halle to ask you to wait a minute.
And will is sometimes used to say how much money is owed.
That will be £1.65, please. 7 typical behaviour
We can use will to talk about typical behaviour.
She'll sit talking to herselffor hours.
When you look at clouds they wUl often remind you ofanimals. Ifsomething breaks down and you kick it, it will often start working again. Sulphuric acid will dissolve most metals.
Stressed will can be used to criticise people's typical behaviour. She WIll fall in love with the wrong people.
Well, ifyou WIlL keep telling people what you think of them ...
Would is used in a similar way to refer to the past. For details, see 633.7. ~ page 617
will: various uses 629