Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine some features of “will” in the progressive form. This form of “will” has been the most difficult of all future meanings to characterise, from the standpoint of functional politeness. It can be summed up as “future-as-a-matter-of-course”. The progressive form of “will” is used tactfully in daily conversation. When used in this form, “will” not only expresses polite interest, but relieves the burden of a response from the listener. It can depict an activity as if it were independent of the speaker's volition. This form of “will” can also be used to reconfirm previous plans, by implying “in addition to...”.
These observations suggest that “will” in the progressive form is basically an expression in which the speaker is aware of the listener, resulting in the appearance of polite discourse.