| What is the main difference between will and would? |
|
The
main difference is that
will is the future of the present, and
would is the future of the past. So
will is used with present situations, and
would is used with past situations.
I think I will go to class early today.
I thought I would go to class early that day.
I know that you will help us.
I knew that you would help us.
He says that he will not be able to attend the concert tomorrow.
He said that he would not be able to attend the concert the next day.
________
The distinction between present and past is also used when
will or
would indicates habitual, usual, characteristic, or repeated actions.
She will work for hours without resting. [now, usually: This is the kind of person she is.]
She would work for hours without resting. [then, at that time, usually: That was the kind of person she was.]
________
Of course there are many other secondary uses of these words. The most important of these is the use of
would to indicate remote possibilities in hypothetical (imagined) situations.
will is not used in these cases, even though they are imagined in present time and do not actually occur in reality.
What would you do if you won a million dollars?
-- I would take a trip around the world.
-- I would buy a big castle.
-- I would share it with my friends.
The past of these is formed with
would have. These are situations that are imagined to have occurred in the past, although they did not occur at all.
What would you have done if you had won a million dollars?
-- I would have taken a trip around the world.
-- I would have bought a big castle.
-- I would have shared it with my friends.
CJ