"will" and agreement

Question

Hello,Could you please tell me if there are mistakes in the following sentence?- Immigrants will hold on to their native language over the years even as the new environement forces them to learn a new language.In particular,a) Is will correct in the sense of "have a strong tendency"?I think that because it is intended as something that happens regularly to immigrants because it is what they want to do, it could be seen as indicating both habit and willingness. Therefore, will should be possible. Is this correct?b) Assuming that it's correct, since will doesn't refer to the future, am I allowed to continue with the present forces or should I change it to will force?Thank youH.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

The sentence you quoted is entirely correct.

a. The "will" can indicate simple future. Or, if there was something said previously about this issue, it could indicate an emphatic statement about immigrants retaining their native tongue. It depends on the full context. The use of the word "forces" is not sufficient, in itself, to infer that the author is making an emphatic statement along these lines.

b. If it is your intent to convey the idea that an immigrant will stubbornly hold on to his native tongue in a new country, then the wording needs to be changed. As it stands, the sentence can be interpreted as simple future tense, with no obvious intent to emphasize the retaining of the native tongue. Putting "will force" in the sentence is not right, in any case.

Henry74 · Answer

Thank Anon.

Perhaps I should have mentioned that I am the author of that line.
I initially wrote Immigrants have a strong tendency to hold on to their native language etc., but because I'm just now starting to understand how will works in English, I was curious to see if this was a case where I could use it.

Anonymous The "will" can indicate simple future. Or [...] it could indicate an emphatic statement about immigrants retaining their native tongue. It depends on the full context.

OK. I'll be carefull to use it in a context where it's clear that it's statement about immigrants retaining their native language, not about a future event.

AnonymousPutting "will force" in the sentence is not right, in any case.

OK. This was my main concern about the sentence.

Thanks
H.

CalifJim · Answer

Henry74Immigrants will hold on to their native language over the years even as the new environment forces them to learn a new language.

No mistakes except the spelling problem noted in red.

Here you have used 'will' in its sense of tendency or habit. Yes. It's fine. In my own mind I think of it as a way of saying that it is in the nature of the subject to do this, and there is little hope of changing it.

Likewise, Brian will talk for hours if you let him. Some people will criticize everything you do. Kids will say the most embarrassing things about their parents.

In my opinion, changing forces to will force is not at all advisable. It's in a temporal subordinate clause (even as ...), a context in which will is usually unwelcome, and besides, the environment doesn't have habits.

CJ

Henry74 · Answer

CalifJimit is in the nature of the subject to do this, and there is little hope of changing it.

I see. So it's not the neutral statement I thought it was.
That seems to be the indication of a strong opposition – someone must have tried to change it and failed repeatedly. There also seems to be the hint of a judgement.
If this is how will would be understood in my sentence, then perhaps I should reconsider.

If I said
- Immigrants tend to hold on to their native language etc.

would that have a weaker, less committing reading?

CalifJimIt's in a temporal subordinate clause (even as ...)

Ah, yes. I didn't realize I was making a temporal clause. I don't use "even as" that much.

CalifJimbesides, the environment doesn't have habits.

That was my reasoning as well.

H.

CalifJim · Answer

Henry74I see. So it's not the neutral statement I thought it was.That seems to be the indication of a strong opposition – someone must have tried to change it and failed repeatedly. There also seems to be the hint of a judgement.

Recall that I said in my own mind I think of it that way. That doesn't mean that it invariably has that connotation. Opinions will vary.

Henry74If I said- Immigrants tend to hold on to their native language etc.would that have a weaker, less committing reading?

Yes. I'd say that 'tend' is weaker than 'will' in that kind of statement, but as I said above, 'will' doesn't necessarily contain the idea of stubborn resistance to leaving off the habit in question. Your addition of "forces them" does suggest a reluctance to learn a new language, however.

CJ

Henry74 · Answer

CalifJimOpinions will vary.

A-ha! Got it.

CalifJimYour addition of "forces them" does suggest a reluctance to learn a new language

True. "force" is too strong a verb. Thank you for pointing that out.

H.

"will" and agreement

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions