will
will — modal verb
1. points forward to an event that has not yet taken place, whether you expect it o
points forward to an event that has not yet taken place, whether you expect it or have made plans for it.
Ravindra will start his new job at the hospital next Monday.
will + base verb for future event
The train will arrive at platform three in about ten minutes.
Eleni will not join us for dinner because she has to study.
won't for negative future
The manager says the meeting will finish before lunchtime today.
Hyun and Christopher will travel to Japan together next spring.
- will probably
- will definitely
- will never
- will soon
- will certainly
- be going to
more informal and often suggests a prior plan or visible evidence, while 'will' can be a spontaneous decision
Grammar Patterns
will + base verb
will not (won't) + base verb
Common Mistakes
2. used to say that someone is ready or agrees to do something, especially in respo
used to say that someone is ready or agrees to do something, especially in response to a request or situation.
Élise said she will help me move my furniture this weekend.
will for willingness to help
The mechanic will fix the brakes for free since it is still under warranty.
Maeve will not eat any food that contains dairy products.
won't for refusal
The dog will sit and stay when Baraka gives the command.
Defne will drive us to the airport if we ask her nicely.
- will gladly
- will happily
- will not (won't)
- be willing to
more formal and explicit about willingness
- agree to
focuses on the act of giving consent
- refuse
the opposite of agreeing or being willing
Grammar Patterns
will + base verb
Usage Note
Negative form 'won't' is often used to express a refusal. This sense typically appears in response to a request or proposal, rather than a pre-arranged plan.
Common Mistakes
3. forms a question to request that another person perform an action, used in every
forms a question to request that another person perform an action, used in everyday situations where you need a favour or assistance.
Will you please pass the salt across the table, Eitan?
Will you please + verb for polite request
Will you turn down the music so the neighbours can sleep?
Will you hold the door open for Heloísa while she carries those boxes?
Will you check whether the front gate is locked before bed?
Will you water the plants while Harper is away on holiday?
Grammar Patterns
Will you + base verb?
Won't you + base verb?
Usage Note
This sense is question-only. Adding 'please' makes the request more polite. For very formal requests, 'Would you' is preferred over 'Will you'.
4. makes a friendly suggestion that somebody join you in an activity, or offers the
makes a friendly suggestion that somebody join you in an activity, or offers them something like food or a drink.
Will you join us for a cup of coffee after the class?
Will you + verb for invitation
Will you have another slice of cake, Sari?
Will you have + noun for offer
Will you come to the cinema with Eleni and me this Saturday?
Will you stay for dinner, Ravindra? We have made too much food.
Will you sit down and tell us about your trip to Thailand?
- would you like to
slightly more formal and common for offers
- do you want to
more informal and direct
Grammar Patterns
Will you + base verb? (invitation)
Will you have + noun? (offer)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 3 (POLITE REQUEST): in offers and invitations, the speaker is proposing something the listener would enjoy, not asking for a favour. Rising intonation and a warm tone are common.
5. used in the main clause of a conditional sentence to talk about what the result
used in the main clause of a conditional sentence to talk about what the result will be if something happens first.
If Hyun studies hard, she will pass the exam with good marks.
if ... will for conditional result
The plants will die if Baraka forgets to water them for a week.
will ... if clause
If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be moved indoors.
Maeve will buy the car if the dealer offers a lower price.
If you press this button, the machine will start automatically.
- will ... if
Grammar Patterns
if + present tense, ... will + base verb
subject + will + base verb + if + clause
Usage Note
The 'if' clause uses the present simple tense, NOT 'will'. Common learner mistake: 'If it will rain' is incorrect in first conditional sentences.
Common Mistakes
6. used to say that something is likely or probable, based on what you know or expe
used to say that something is likely or probable, based on what you know or expect.
Heloísa will be at home now, since her shift ended an hour ago.
will be for probability based on knowledge
That will be the postman knocking at the front door.
Christopher has not eaten all day, so he will be very hungry by now.
The package will arrive by Friday if the courier stays on schedule.
Defne will probably finish the report before the deadline next week.
- will probably
- will certainly
- will surely
- be likely to
used in more formal contexts
- should
strong probability based on expectation
- unlikely
the opposite of probable
Grammar Patterns
will + base verb
will be + adjective/noun
Usage Note
This sense expresses the speaker's logical conclusion rather than a future prediction. Often used with 'probably' or when deducing something from evidence. Distinguish from sense 1 (FUTURE EVENT) which talks about planned/scheduled future events.
7. expresses a forceful order when the speaker is upset or irritated, making it cle
expresses a forceful order when the speaker is upset or irritated, making it clear that the listener must obey.
Will you stop tapping your pen on the desk right now!
Will you + verb! for angry command
You will apologize to Eleni for what you said, or leave the room.
You will + verb for firm order
Will you please sit down and listen to what Eitan is trying to say!
You will finish your homework before you touch that video game controller.
Will you children quiet down this instant — the baby is trying to sleep!
- must
less emotionally charged; expresses obligation rather than anger
Grammar Patterns
Will you + base verb! (emphatic)
You will + base verb (assertive command)
Usage Note
Unlike sense 3 (POLITE REQUEST), this sense uses strong or angry intonation and is often spoken with emphasis on 'will'. In written form, an exclamation mark is typical. Not used in polite conversation.
8. refers to something that is true in general or happens as a regular pattern, des
refers to something that is true in general or happens as a regular pattern, describing predictable behaviour or known facts.
Sari will spend hours reading before falling asleep each night.
will for habitual behaviour
Water will boil at one hundred degrees Celsius at sea level.
will for general scientific truth
My grandfather will sit in his garden every morning with a book.
A good teacher will explain the same idea in different ways until every student understands.
The cat will sleep on the warm part of the floor where the sun hits.
- will always
- will usually
- will often
- tends to
focuses on likelihood rather than certainty
Grammar Patterns
will + base verb (general truth/habit)
Usage Note
Distinguish from the present simple tense for habits: 'will' in this sense adds a slight sense of 'this is what normally happens — you can rely on it'. It is common in general statements about predictable behaviour.
Common Mistakes
will — noun
1. the mental strength that lets you control your thoughts, feelings, and actions,
the mental strength that lets you control your thoughts, feelings, and actions, especially when something is difficult to do or resist.
Baraka had an iron will and refused to give up after the accident.
collocation: iron will / strong will
It took all of Eitan's will to turn down the second piece of cake.
The athlete's will to win pushed her through months of painful training.
the will to + verb
Maeve lost her will to continue after the project was cancelled suddenly.
Heloísa showed tremendous will by studying every night while working full-time.
- strong will
- iron will
- will to live
- will to succeed
- will to win
- willpower
the most common near-synonym, especially for self-discipline
- determination
focuses on firmly deciding to achieve something
- resolve
strong determination to do something difficult
- weakness
lack of mental strength
- indecision
inability to make firm choices
Grammar Patterns
the will to + base verb
willpower
Usage Note
Often found in fixed phrases: 'willpower' (compound noun), 'strong will', 'iron will', 'will to live/will to succeed'. As an uncountable noun in this sense, it does not take an article unless modified.
Common Mistakes
2. the thing or outcome that a person or group desires, especially in matters invol
the thing or outcome that a person or group desires, especially in matters involving decisions, authority, or collective agreement.
The committee respected the will of the voters and changed the policy.
the will of + group for collective desire
Christopher stayed at the party against his will because his friends begged him.
against one's will — unwillingly
It was the king's will that the castle be rebuilt after the fire.
Sari agreed to the plan of her own free will, without anyone pressuring her.
of one's own free will — voluntarily
The old woman made it clear that her will was to donate savings to charity.
- will of the people
- against one's will
- free will
- it is my will that...
- wish
simple desire; less formal
- desire
stronger feeling of wanting something
- preference
what someone would choose if given the option
- opposition
active disagreement with what is wanted
Grammar Patterns
the will of + noun
against one's will
Usage Note
Fixed phrases: 'against one's will' (unwillingly), 'of one's own free will' (voluntarily), 'the will of the people' (democratic preference). Do not confuse with sense 1 (MENTAL POWER) — this sense is about what is wanted, not the strength to pursue it.
Common Mistakes
3. a legal document that states what a person wants to happen to their money, prope
a legal document that states what a person wants to happen to their money, property, and belongings after they die.
Harper's grandfather left the family house to her in his will.
leave + noun + in one's will
The lawyer read the will aloud to the family members in the office.
Eleni decided to write a will after her first child was born.
write / make a will
Without a valid will, the court decides how to divide the property.
The old will was replaced by a newer one that included the grandchildren as heirs.
- make a will
- write a will
- leave in one's will
- last will and testament
- change a will
- testament
formal legal term; often paired in 'last will and testament'
Grammar Patterns
last will and testament
in someone's will
leave something in one's will
Usage Note
The formal legal phrase is 'last will and testament', but in everyday English people simply say 'will'. Common verbs: 'make/draw up/write a will', 'leave something in one's will', 'change/update a will'.
will — verb
1. to try to make something happen by thinking about it very strongly, as if your m
to try to make something happen by thinking about it very strongly, as if your mind alone could change the result.
Hyun willed herself to stay awake until the rescue team arrived.
will + reflexive + to-infinitive
The runner willed his legs to keep moving even though every muscle ached.
Élise willed the phone to ring, hoping to hear good news about her job application.
The crowd willed the team to score one final goal before the whistle blew.
Ravindra stood at the finish line and willed his daughter to cross it.
- will oneself to
- will something to happen
- force oneself to
emphasizes effort against resistance; more common in everyday speech
Grammar Patterns
will + object + to-infinitive
will + that-clause
Usage Note
Unlike the modal verb 'will' (which is always followed by a base verb), the main verb 'will' here takes an object plus a to-infinitive ('willed herself to continue'). It is fairly formal and describes a specific kind of mental act, not a general feeling.
Common Mistakes
2. to want or desire something to happen, used in very formal or old-fashioned cont
to want or desire something to happen, used in very formal or old-fashioned contexts such as literature or official statements.
The queen willed that the ceremony begin at noon sharp.
will + that-clause for formal wish
Christopher willed that the funds be donated to build a new library in the village.
will + that-clause for formal wish
The old captain willed fair winds for the departing ship.
The council willed that the old building be preserved as a historic site.
Eleni willed nothing more than a quiet life away from the city noise.
Grammar Patterns
will + that-clause
will + noun (formal)
Usage Note
This sense is much less common in modern English. In most everyday contexts, 'want' or 'wish' are used instead. The that-clause form ('willed that...') appears mostly in literary or legal writing.
3. to pass your possessions or valuables to somebody through a legal document that
to pass your possessions or valuables to somebody through a legal document that takes effect when you die.
Harper's aunt willed her entire art collection to the local museum.
will + something + to + someone
Baraka willed a small portion of his savings to a children's charity.
The old fisherman willed his boat and fishing gear to his nephew.
Eleni's grandmother willed her jewellery collection to each of her granddaughters.
The wealthy landowner willed that his estate be turned into a public park.
will + that-clause for bequest instruction
- will to
- will something to someone
Grammar Patterns
will + something + to + someone
will + someone + something
Usage Note
More common verbs for everyday use are 'leave' or 'give'. 'Will' as a verb in this sense is a formal legal term and appears mostly in discussions about inheritance and wills (noun sense 3).
Word family
- willingadjectiveA2
- willinglyadverbB1
- willingnessnounB2
- unwillingadjectiveB2
- willpowernounB2
- free willnounB2
- strong-willedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words describe the ability to pursue a goal despite difficulty, but they differ in emphasis. 'Willpower' is the broadest everyday term — it focuses on resisting temptation or short-term urges, such as saying no to dessert or getting up early. 'Determination' adds a sense of fixed purpose: someone who continues studying for years despite setbacks shows determination, not just momentary willpower. 'Resolve' carries a slightly formal tone and suggests a firm decision reached after reflection, often in moral or high-stakes contexts ('He made a New Year's resolve to quit smoking'). 'Self-discipline' emphasizes training and habit — the ability to follow a consistent system or routine. In practice: 'It took all her willpower not to check her phone during the exam'; 'His determination to finish the marathon never wavered'; 'She showed remarkable resolve in sticking to her principles'; 'He developed the self-discipline to write for two hours every morning.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'will' comes from Old English 'willan', meaning 'to wish, desire, or be willing'. This traces back to Proto-Germanic '*wiljaną' and further to the Proto-Indo-European root '*welh-' meaning 'to choose or wish'. Related words in other languages include Latin 'velle' (to wish) and German 'wollen' (to want). The noun sense of 'will' as a mental faculty developed in Old English, while the legal 'will' (testament) emerged in the 14th century from the idea of a document recording one's wishes. The modern modal verb uses developed from the same root, originally expressing desire or intention before shifting to mark simple future tense.