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3.1. The volition (subjectiveness- objective meaning)
It tends to be seen the speaker's volition, if the subject is the first person. But whether it is the volition or the prediction depends on a context. (*12) See the following examples.


*12 If the progressive form and the perfect form are used, the volition meaning is not seen.


(2)
a. I'll lend you some money, if you like.
b. I'll send you the results of my studies tomorrow.

The volition can be strong or weak, therefore, the meanings of the engagement and the threat are derived. See the following examples.

(3)
a. I won't borrow money.
(engagement)
b. I'll break your neck!
(threat)

The volition tends to have the variety meaning, since it is the speaker's feelings. In the negative sentence, the refusal is seen. See the following examples.

(4)
a. I won't give up.
( I don't want to give up. )
b. She won't do her homework.
( She doesn't want to do it. )

If the second person is used for the interrogative sentence, it can ask the hearer's volition. The request and the invitation are derived. See the following examples.

(5)
a. Will you open the window, please?
(request)
b. Will you have some coffee?
(invitation)

If the second person is emphasized, the direction is derived. The stress is put on "will." See the following examples.

(6)
a. You will do it at once.
( Do it at once. )
b. You will not be leaving here.
( Don't leave here. )

The adherence is also derived. See the following examples.

(7)
a. You will arrive late for the meeting.
(You are late every time.)
b. Boys will be boys.
(You are a naughty boy.)

Moreover, if the volition is expanded, the habitualness is derived. See the following examples.

(8)
a. She will sit there and look at the sea for hours.
(She is sometimes there.)
b. He will go for a walk after lunch.
(He often walks.)
c. Oil will float on water. (*13)


*13 (8c) can be changed into "Oil floats on water." When "will" is put, it pays attention to the habitualness.
This is not seen in the phenomina, it is not used. See the following examples. (a) is unacceptable.

a. *The sun will set in the west.
b. The sun sets in the west.


To express habitual, the present tense can be used. If "will" is used, the habitualness is paid attention.


As mentioned above, it can be said "will" express the speaker's thought in the spot.

It is similar to "be going to", but this meaning is the plan. See the following examples.

(9)
We're going to get married next spring.
( We're planning to do it. )

(Cf. 4.2.3. of The sense of time in English 2.)

Now, the past tense "would" can be used for the adherence and the refusal. See the following examples.

(10)
a. I kept him back but he would go there.
(adherence : He wanted to go there anyway.)
b. The door wouldn't open.
(refusal)

Moreover, this is often used for the past habitualness. See the following examples.

(11)
a. We would often go swimming in the pool when we were children.
b. She would sit on a park bench for hours when she was single.

The above is the recollection.
The stative verb can not be used with it.

It can be used for "used to" with the stative verb, and it means the opposition to the present. That is to say, "would" means unknown wheter the event is continued in the present, but "used to" means the event was stopped in a certain past. (*14)


*14 Since "would" does not pay attention to the opposition, it means the recollection.


(12)
a. There used to be a post office here.
b. He used to love her.

(12a) means the past office is not there in the present, and (12b) means he does not love her.

Moreover, since "used to" has the opposition to the present, it is not used with the past time adverbials. (Cf. 2.3.1. of The sense of time in English 2.)






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