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Mr. Tom Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

The use of "if you will"

Hi

Do you find this sentence correct and natural, especially the use of "if you will"? Any suggestions are welcome.

Tell me how things are at your end if you will.

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

" The expression is quite common in the US, but I think it's fairly recent - within my lifetime, anyway. " - A.

— Avangi

  • " The expression is quite common in the US, but I think it's fairly recent - within my lifetime, anyway.
  • " - A.
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3 Answers
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I'd suggest a comma before "if you will."

The expression is quite common in the US, but I think it's fairly recent - within my lifetime, anyway. (I've never used it.) It dates at least back to The Music Man- "Permit me, if you will, I'm Professor Harold Hill."
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This use of will derives from the original meaning of Old English wyllan, which meant 'to want, to desire'. There are easily recognizable similar words that mean 'to want' in other Germanic languages: wollen (German), vilja (Swedish).

There are grammatical similarities as well. For example, in Swedish the plain infinitive (= infinitive without to) is us
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Hi, CB,
I agree that the sense of it is a polite invitation, similar to "if you please"; "if you wish"; "if you want to"; "if you would"; "if you don't mind."
Cheers
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