"will" in conditional type 1

[lost_soul]

Hi,

My friend from New-Zealand told me that these usages of "will after "if"" are natural to him:

[Molly]

Yes, and it's as old as the hills.

If you will bite your nails, please do it out of my sight!
If you will eat curry, you will get a bad stomach.

He will insist on coming round all the time.

[Yankee]

Hi Alex

The use of 'will' that your friend was referring to is a usage that stresses your 'willingness' to do something (as opposed to something else). For example:

If you will just let me get a word in edgewise, I will explain it to you!

In other words 'you are not allowing me to talk, but if you stop talking and allow me to talk, I will be able to explain it to you.'

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(By the way, I believe the Brits would use 'get a word in edgeways' in the sentence above -- but I'm not positive.)
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Molly]

It normally expresses obstinate insistence, which is usually habitual.

With Amy's, indirect form/"polite", offering, the obstinate insistence would be seen in the direct form:

e.g.

If you will prevent me getting a word in edgewise, I will not be able to explain it to you!

[Yankee]

.
My example did not necessarily refer to habitual action (and neither did Alex's). Both refer to something the other person seems to be unwilling to do at the moment.
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Molly]

"Usually" means not always, doesn't it?

[Yankee]

Alex's sentence did not fit your "usually" pattern.

I chose to address Alex's question more specifically.
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[lost_soul]

Hi, Amy

Thanks a million
_________________
Alex

A native speaker of Russian

[lost_soul]

[Molly]

[MrPedantic]

In BrE:

1. If you will spend all your time online, then no wonder you're fat.
— implies persistence on the addressee's part; disapproval on the speaker's.

2. If you will just sign here, sir, I'll get your key.
— implies deference on the speaker's part; willingness on the addressee's.

3. go pear-shaped
— Yes, quite common in BrE. When planned things go wrong, they go pear-shaped.

4. get a word in edgeways
— Yes, again quite common in BrE: usually in the negative ("I couldn't get a word in edgeways"). It implies mildly humorous exasperation on the part of the person who couldn't get the word in.

MrP

[Molly]