neutral will
DESCRIPTION
The auxiliary verb 'will' is tricky to explainTRANSCRIPT
Neutral Will
so far:
(1) we use the presentto refer to the future
this is called aspect
aspect shows how we viewthe future
present simple timetabled eventsabout to immediate futuregoing to future intentions
present continuous future plans
(2) Will and Shall arepresent tense modal verbs
(2) Will and Shall arepresent tense modal verbs
that express willingness
modal will and shall willingnessnon-modal will and shall escape from aspect!
(3) Will and Shall areauxiliaries for the neutral future
but what is the neutral future
?
these books don’t agree on what the neutral future is
neutral future means:
neutral future means:
a). no aspect, or
neutral future means:
a). no aspect, orb). aspect is already
communicated
a). no aspectno decision
I’ll be 50 in December.
I’ll be 50 in December.
no decision
a). no aspectno prediction
The next Olympics will be held in Rio.
The next Olympics will be held in Rio.
no prediction
a). no aspectB.P.T.
I’ll be here at 9 o’clock.
I’ll be here at 9 o’clock.
be
I’ll be here at 9 o’clock.
be place
I’ll be here at 9 o’clock.
be place time
I’ll be here at 9 o’clock.
B P T
N.B.
I’m going to arrive hereat 9 o’clock.
I’m going to arrive hereat 9 o’clock.
main verb is ‘arrive’(not be)
I’m going to arrive hereat 9 o’clock.
so we use‘going to’not ‘will’
I’ll arrive hereat 9 o’clock.
so we use‘going to’not ‘will’
b). aspect is elsewherein the 1st verb
I’m sureI’m not sure
that I’ll go.
I’m sureI’m not sure
that I’ll go.
aspect isHERE
I’m sureI’m not sure
that I’ll go.
aspect isHERE
so this part is neutral
I’m sureI’m not sure
that I’ll go.
I’m sureI’m not sure
that I’ll go.
NB ‘certainty’ is NOT a useful
concept
I thinkI don’t think
(that) I’ll stay.
I know (that) she’ll like it.
I don’t know if she’ll like it.
b). aspect is elsewherein an adverb
PerhapsMaybe
it’ll rain later.
It’ll probably rain later.
It’ll probably rain later.
It probably won’t rain later.
It’ll probably rain later.
It probably won’t rain later.
notice that ‘probably’ changes
position
b). aspect is elsewhere‘when’ and ‘what time’
WhenWhat time
will you arrive?
some cases
I’ll meet John for a coffee.
neutral future?
I’ll meet John for a coffee.
NO!
I’ll meet John for a coffee.
modal will to respond to a need
“What will you do with John?”“I’ll meet John for a coffee.”
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
I have this plan
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
it’s already decided
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
‘going to’ for the intentional future
when talking about decisionsthere’s a clear contrast between
modal willand
going to
I’ll meet John for a coffee.
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
I’ll meet John for a coffee.
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
new decision
already decided
I’ll meet John for a coffee.
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
new decision
indicative:factual
I’ll meet John for a coffee.
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
modal:interpersonal
interaction
present
I’ll meet John for a coffee.
I’m going to meet Johnfor a coffee
present
Will you go awayat the weekend?
Will you go awayat the weekend?
neutralfuture
?
Will you go awayat the weekend?
modalwillingness
?
Will you go awayat the weekend?
modalwillingness
?
neutralfuture
?
Will you go awayat the weekend
please?
modalwillingness
?
choose ‘will’ or ‘going to’
I ______ tennis with John tomorrow [play].
Maybe I ______ tennis with John tomorrow [play].
I think that I ______ the match at your house [watch].
What ______ you ______ after you finish university [do]?
What ______ he ______ if he can’t find the address [do]?
Please come in. I ______ a chair for you [get].
I’m not sure I ______ this film [like].
______ you ______ me with my homework [help]?
We ______ friends in Spain this summer [visit].
The next G8 ______ in Russia [not be held].
I ______ in the library after the lesson [be].
choose ‘will’ or ‘going to’
I’m going to play tennis with John tomorrow.
Maybe I’ll play tennis with John tomorrow.
I think that I’ll watch the match at your house.
What are you going to do after you finish university?
What will he do if he can’t find the address?
Please come in. I’ll get a chair for you.
I’m not sure I’ll like this film.
Will you help me with my homework?
We’re going to visit friends in Spain this summer.
The next G8 won’t be held in Russia.
I’ll be in the library after the lesson.
www.davidnicholson.it