Modal verbs 3

Modal verbs 3

By Andreea Mesescu

​Prediction and certainty

​We use "will/won't" to make predictions about the future.

e.g.: He will be in prison for a long time.

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• confident predictions about the present

• certainty about something ongoing: will/won't + be + ing form

• certain about smth has happened: will have + past participle​

​Characteristics, habits and routines

​- actions that have become so routine that they are predictable

e.g.: Every lesson is the same, he'll sit down, get his books and then he'll start giving instructions. ​

• habits and characteristics; (we can also use present simple)

e.g.: The public will side/sides with the nurses in any dispute.

• characteristics of capacity or ability​ (will hold, will do)

• to describe an annoying habit or to make a criticism;​

​We use "would/wouldn't" - habits in the past;

e.g.: He would sit down and wouldn't greet us.

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• to criticise or talk about annoying habits in the past;

• to talk about inanimate objects ​- The car would not start on winter mornings.

​

We use "will" to express willingness to do something;

We use "won't/shan't" to express unwillingness or refusal to do something - "Go and buy some milk, will you?" , "No, I shan't." ​

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​"would/wouldn't" - willingness in the past;

"would not" - refusal on a SINGLE occasion in the past: "The shop assistant wouldn't change the jumper for me.​"

​Other uses

​"will" and "shall" - offers;

will - affirmative and shall - questions

e.g: Shall I wash the up this evening?

will - promises;

shall - questions with "we" to make suggestions;

e.g.: Shall we go out?

​

!!​! "shall" in questions tags after "let's" Let's forget about it, shall we?

​would - verbs of liking and preference (like, love, prefer)

would - suggestions or responding to invitations;

will - requests;

will and shall - orders and formal instructions;​

would/wouldn't - disagreement​

​Hypothetical would

​would - verbs of liking and wishing to express a desire for the present or future.

e.g.: I would prefer to be a man.

• unfulfilled desire - I would like to stay ​in five- star hotels.

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wish + would expresses a desire for another person to do something.

e.g.: I wish you wouldn't talk with your mouth full!

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would/wouldn't + have + past participle - past situation

e.g.: It would have been a good idea to notify them.​