Will/Want

Just here for the exercises? Click here.

What’s the difference between will and want?

Will and want are often mixed up but their meanings are quite different; will talks about the future whereas want expresses a wish.

Learn the difference with Lingolia’s quick and easy examples, then put your knowledge to the test in the exercise.

Want

Use want to:

  • express a desire or wish
    Example:
    He wants to own his own restaurant, it’s his dream.

Will

Use will to:

  • talk about the future in the different future tenses;
    Example:
    Annie will be eleven in October.
  • express a strong intention;
    Example:
    I will live abroad one day.
  • show certainty;
    Example:
    I’m sure everything will be ok in the end.
  • make predictions;
    Example:
    I think Liverpool will win the league this year.
  • make promises;
    Example:
    I promise I’ll call you later.
  • make requests;
    Example:
    Will you help me with this, please?

Info

Compare:

Example:
I will live abroad one day.
the speaker firmly believes this, by using will he/she refers to a certainty
I want to live abroad one day.
this sentence is not as strong as the one above; it only expresses a wish, it doesn’t make any reference to the likelihood of this happening

Will and want as nouns

Both will and want can be used as nouns. They also have a difference in meaning.

As a noun, a will can refer to:

  • determination, the mental ability that controls your actions
Example:
She has an iron will, when she decides to do something she doesn’t stop until she has achieved her goal.
  • legal papers that explain what should be done with property and money after their owner dies
Example:
In his will he left his entire fortune to his cat, the family were furious.

In contrast, a want can refer to:

  • a lack of something
Example:
We only went there for want of a better idea.
  • a need for something
Example:
The garden is in want of some attention.