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Inelements Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
"will" to talk about now.
Hello,
I've just learned that will can be used to talk about now.
Is it common to use will to talk about now?
If so, will you show few examples of will to talk about now?
Thank you!
I've just learned that will can be used to talk about now.
Is it common to use will to talk about now?
If so, will you show few examples of will to talk about now?
Thank you!
Top answer
inelements I've just learned that will can be used to talk about now. I suppose only when 'willpower' is the meaning. What examples do you have from the source from which you learnt this?
- inelements I've just learned that will can be used to talk about now.
- I suppose only when 'willpower' is the meaning.
- What examples do you have from the source from which you learnt this?
- None springs to mind.
- I'm afraid.
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7 Answers
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inelementsI've just learned that will can be used to talk about now.I suppose only when 'willpower' is the meaning. What examples do you have from the source from which you learnt this? None springs to mind. I'm afraid. One source offers these:
Talking about the present with certainty (making deductions)
I'm sure you will unders
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Thank you for your reply.
This is from the textbook.
Generally we use will to talk about the future, but sometimes we use will to talk about now.
For example:
Don't phone Ann now. She'll be busy. (= she'll be busy now)
This is from the textbook.
Generally we use will to talk about the future, but sometimes we use will to talk about now.
For example:
Don't phone Ann now. She'll be busy. (= she'll be busy now)
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inelementsDon't phone Ann now. She'll be busy. (= she'll be busy now)That is the same as my excerpted definition above.
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Luke's plane left two hours ago, so he will be in England now.
He will have landed half an hour ago.
There is only certainty there; I see not a trace of futurity.
He will have landed half an hour ago.
There is only certainty there; I see not a trace of futurity.
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inelementsGenerally we use will to talk about the future, but sometimes we use will to talk about now.For example:Don't phone Ann now. She'll be busy. (= she'll be busy now)Yes, 'will' could be used to talk about 'now' or 'at this moment' as well. In this case, 'will' expresses, as in your example above, a certainty in the speaker's mind.
You could
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fivejedjonLuke's plane left two hours ago, so he will be in England now. He will have landed half an hour ago.The trace of 'futurity' that I feel is that those facts have not yet been proven:
...he will be in England now [when we actually talk to him there or otherwise gain proof].
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Thank you all for your help.
Which sounds better and common?
What is the difference if I say, "I'm sure he is working in the garden"?
- Where's Peter at the moment? I just called him but he didn't pick the up the phone.
~Well, don't worry. I'm sure he will be working in the garden (as he is usually doing this at this time).
Which sounds better and common?
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