will
Lesson 3 of 6 · ~7 minutes

Lesson 3 · will

I'll never forget you

Promises

will is used for promises and reassurances — the speaker gives their word right now. The negative won't promises not to do something, or firmly refuses.

I give my word

  • promiseI will call you tomorrow, I promise — the promise is made now
  • refusalI won't tell anyone — a firm promise not to

Situation

A friend is worried.
A secret is shared.
A promise about tomorrow.

Promise

I will always be there for you.
I won't tell anyone.
I will call you first thing.
Situation
Promise
A friend is worried.
I will always be there for you.
A secret is shared.
I won't tell anyone.
A promise about tomorrow.
I will call you first thing.

I will always be there for you.

I won't tell anyone, I promise.

We will never forget this trip.

She won't give up on him.

Where people usually slip

won't doesn't only mean “will not”; it can also mean “refuses to”: He won't listen to me means he refuses to listen, not just that he won't listen at some time in the future.

It's a refusal, not a fact about the future: The door won't open — the door is stuck and refuses to open.

In short

  • promisewill + verb — I give my word
  • refusalwon't + verb — I won't / it refuses
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