Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs used along with the infinite form of the verb to convey and express possibility, requests, ability, necessity, and much more.
Modal verbs have a lot of applications, like expressing suggestions and talking about the present conditions. It is used in many tenses. These auxiliary verbs are also called conditionals.
Key Takeaways
- “Will be” is used for certain future events, while “would be” is hypothetical, describing a possibility that may not occur.
- “Will be” is used for statements of fact, while “would be” is used for statements of condition.
- “Would be” is followed by “if” and a past-tense verb, while “will be” is not followed by these phrases.
Will Be vs Would Be
The difference between ‘will be’ and ‘would be’ is that though both are used in similar applications, they differ in their tenses and meaning. ‘Would’ is more polite than will. The usage of both these phrases differs in the way they sound. Both phrases cannot be used in all the tenses.
Will be is used in expressing the real possibilities. It is used to interrogate or convey any message about the future.
For example: Will you be coming to school with me? It is used to talk about the actions you can do without any obstacles. For instance, I will be playing the piano at the concert.
Would be is another modal or a conditional phrase used to talk about imaginary situations, express offers, promises, requests, and talk about beliefs. For example, I would wear a red dress for my next birthday.
It is polite and conveniently used in a formal context. For example, We would be adjourning for lunch after the meeting.
Comparison Table
| Parameters Of Comparison | Will Be | Would Be |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | Using the phrase will be in interrogative sentences may sound informal and impolite. For example, Will you be eating with us? | Using would sound more polite and formal than it would be when used in interrogative sentences. For example, Would you be having lunch with us? |
| Tone | It is used in an aggressive and commanding way to pass orders and also in declarative sentences. For example, Will you please be quiet? | It would be rather used politely to make offers or request something. For example, Would you help me carry my books? |
| Direct or indirect speech | It is used indirect speech. For example, He will be playing the guitar. | It would be used in indirect speech. For example, The guitar would be played by the girls. |
| Tense | Will be is used in the future continuous tense. For instance, I will be cooking dinner. | Would be is used in future continuous tense to express a desire or when someone is aspiring. For example, I would be a doctor when I grow up. |
| Other forms | Will be doesn’t take any other form other than the modal phrase. | Would-be is an adjective used in a sentence to describe what a person desires or aspires to be. |
What is Will Be?
It is a modal verb used to address the possibility and interrogation of incidents in the future. Will is the main form in its infinite form, whereas be is the main form or infinite form in general, whereas here, it is used as a supporting verb.
It is mostly used to emphasize predictions and activities in the continuous tense. For example,
They will be sanitizing the rooms every day.
We will be eating chicken for supper.
It is used in describing the setting of a scene or the ongoing scene. For instance, they will be dancing when you arrive at the party. Informally it is used to interrogate to know the answers to pre-decided questions. For example,
Will you be dancing with them?
Will you be joining us for shopping?
It describes the activities going on simultaneously at the same time. For example, the others will be writing the test by the time I reach school. It is used in future continuous predominantly. For example,
I will be playing hockey tomorrow.
The presence of will in the sentences depicts either it is in the reported speech or future continuous. Its usage is given by the following.
Will you be doing your homework tomorrow?
What is Would Be?
It is most commonly used in talking about the actions or habits that happened in the past and is no more occurring. For example,
When we were young, we would attend singing classes every Wednesday.
It is also used to describe an event that is taking place somewhere. For instance,
They would be spending time with their grandparents.
Sometimes in a particular context, it acts as an adjective. It means to aspire or desire to be someone later in the future. A few examples that support the statements are,
I would be an engineer in five years.
They would be successful in their start-up in less than three years.
It also expresses something we aren’t talking about in real life, pretend. For example,
If I were a bird, I would happily fly across countries.
It describes actions of the future that were prevalent one time but not in use in the current time’s future.
Main Differences Between Will Be and Would Be
- ‘Will be’ is predominantly used in an informal context as it sounds impolite. It is used to summon or order someone. ‘Would be’ sounds more formal and polite, and friendly. It sounds like a polite request or asking for an opinion.
- ‘Will be’ has no significance other than a modal phrase, whereas at some places, ‘would be’ – plays the role of an adjective used to explain one’s desires.
- Will be’ is used in direct speech, whereas ‘would be’ is used in reported speech.
- ‘Will be’ is used in situations of certainty and possibility. ‘Would be’ is used in most imaginary situations.
- ‘Will be’ describes actions still in practice, whereas ‘would be’ talks about habits that once were regular but are no more in practice.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0388000105000252
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0075424209348151
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
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