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fw
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 361
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 Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject: He will do well but must treat his work more seriously next |
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I�m interested in the use of �will.�
The following is from a school report a famous politician got at the age of six.
11th of 11 in his class: He will do well but must treat his work more seriously next term. Very truthful, but a problem student at present. What does the �will� mean here? A dictionary at hand gives several meanings, including:
1. future（or prediction）
2. willing to do sth.
3. what generally happens
4. possibility( =can)
Many people around me say it means #1, but to me it seems #4. What do you think? |
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tyreless
Joined: 22 Jul 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Colombia
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
The following is from a school report a famous politician got at the age of six.
11th of 11 in his class: He will do well but must treat his work more seriously next term. Very truthful, but a problem student at present.
What does the �will� mean here? A dictionary at hand gives several meanings, including:
1. future（or prediction）
2. willing to do sth.
3. what generally happens
4. possibility( =can)
Many people around me say it means #1, but to me it seems #4. What do you think? |
Hello fw I would also say it's 1. If the idea were one of possibility I would expect "might". Of course there is an irony in "will" as future or prediction as the future politician is last i.e. the weakest pupil of the class. The teacher seems to acknowledge that the the pupil is very clever but criticizes the fact, that he doesn't take school as such very serious.
Does that help?
David
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