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English Language in Use How to use ‘will’

IMPORTANT ‘will’ does not equal the future!

Tense and Aspect/Viewpoint English is NOT a tense-based language English grammar usually signals aspect/ viewpoint and feelings not tense.

To ‘mean’ and to ‘mean by’ Example: The famous Arnold Schwarzeneger movie quote: “I’ll be back” What does this mean? It means that at some point in the future Schwarzeneger’s character in the movie will return to the same place. It is a statement of fact. What does he (Schwarzenegger’s character) mean by this? He means that the person he is speaking to should be afraid, as he (Schwarzeneger’s character) will return to harm him/get revenge. It’s a threat. In this example, the future time is not important. What is important is that it’s a _______________.

You can use ‘WILL’ to... threaten decide offer request promise reassure predict

Use of English Mini-test: The suitcase story Read the story and do the ‘Test yourself’ exercise. An old man is at Waverley station in Edinburgh. He is carrying a very big, heavy suitcase. A much younger man sees the old man carrying the heavy case. “I’ll (1) help him”, thinks the younger man, and he says to the old man, “I’ll (2) carry that for you”. The old man smiles and thanks the younger man, but he thinks to himself, “It’s too heavy for him. He’ll (3) never carry it!” The younger man lifts the suitcase and struggles along the platform for a few steps. He then puts the case back down and says, “I’m really sorry, but it’s too heavy for me”. “Don’t worry”, replies the old man. “ I’ll (4) manage it myself. Thanks anyway”. Test yourself: Match the different uses/examples of ‘WILL’/ ‘ll (numbered 1 – 4) in the above story to its different meanings/functions below. Remember: sometimes ‘WILL’ can have more than one meaning at the same time. Example Function “I’ll help him” Prediction “I’ll carry that for you” Offer ”He’ll never carry it!” Reassurance 4. “ I’ll manage it myself” Decision

Answers to mini-test Example Function/Use “I’ll help him” Prediction “I’ll carry that for you” Offer ”He’ll never carry it!” Opinion 4. “ I’ll manage it myself” Decision

Different uses/functions at the same time - 1 Note that “I’ll manage it myself” can have different meanings at the same time: It’s an opinion; that is, the man thinks/is of the opinion that he can manage to carry the case himself. It’s a prediction; the man predicts he will manage to carry the case himself.

Different uses/functions at the same time - 2 “I’ll manage to carry it myself” can also be a reassurance. This is clear when the old man says: “Don’t worry. I’ll manage to carry it myself”.

Check other SSC Use of English lessons and learn how to use: ‘will’ for a request and an offer and i) ‘going to’ + verb ii) the present continuous iii) the present simple to talk about intentions and future plans

Anne McDonald Scotland Study Centre Academic & Business English Training Centre Edinburgh, Scotland www.ScotlandStudyCentre.com info@scotlandstudycentre.com +44 (0) 131 241 60 99