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Hans51 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Usage of 'will'

Definition of the word will
1 used for talking about or predicting the future
2 used for showing that somebody is willing to do something
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/will_1

I have learned that 'will' has lots of meanings and one of them is 'be willing to' and I have seen some explanation that in "You will die, Harry Poter!" will is used to mean "I am willing to kill you", but I think "will" should have a meaning of subject's will, not speaker's will, right? And I also think that the will in the sentence has a meaning of the #1 or others. What do you native English speakers think? Thank you so much in advance.

Usage of will in each sentence is the same?

The baby won't eat anything
I will check it in you want.
"You will die, Harry Poter!"
  

Top answer

Hans51 but I think "will" should have a meaning of subject's will, not speaker's will, right? No. I will do it for you.

— Fivejedjon

  • Hans51 but I think "will" should have a meaning of subject's will, not speaker's will, right?
  • No.
  • I will do it for you.
  • The volition is on the part of the speaker, The word denoting the speaker happens to be the subject of the verb.
  • John will do it for you.
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5 Answers
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Hans51 but I think "will" should have a meaning of subject's will, not speaker's will, right?
No.

I will do it for you. The volition is on the part of the speaker, The word denoting the speaker happens to be the subject of the verb.
John will do it for you. The volition may be on the part of the speaker or of the subject of the verb
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Thank you so much and then do you agree that in "You will die, Harry Poter!", can we see the speaker. Voldemort's will to kill Harry Poter?
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Not from those words alone. Not being a Harry Potter fan, I don't know the context. Voldemort could just be expressing his certainty of about Harry's demise.
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Thank you so much and come to think of it, when the volition can be on the part of the speaker when the speaker is not the subject of the verb like "John will do it for you". How the speaker's will is expressed in the sentence? Could you elaborate on this issue, please?
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It is my (the speaker's) will/wish/offer/command that John do it.
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