Using Will and Would

[EngLearner]

Hello All,

Could someone make me understand the difference between the below two statements.

How long will it take to reach London?
How long would it take to reach London?

I am concrened about the diff. between usage of Will and Would. Is it only the difference of tenses i.e future(first) and past(second) or the difference of informal(first) and more formal(second) way of questioning.

Thanks,
EngLearner.

[Mister Micawber]

.
Here it is primarily a matter of likelihood.

'Will' suggests that the speaker (or a person of interest) is definitely going to arrive in London in the future-- it is a definite plan, or s/he is buying a ticket, or s/he is aboard the train now.

'Would' is hypothetical ('How long would it take, if I were going?'), so the speaker is only contemplating the possibility of travel to London.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[lost_soul]

[EngLearner]

Hi MM,

Thanks a lot for the reply.

[Mister Micawber]

.