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probability, general truth or simple future tense?



 
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2) If at all the animal is to be branded. What does "at all" mean in th | handset
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probability, general truth or simple future tense? #1 (permalink) Sat Jan 14, 2012 18:07 pm   probability, general truth or simple future tense?
 

Hello everyone,

Even though many juvenile delinquents will have troubled family relationships, a significant number of them have family who will want to keep contact with them while they are serving their sentence. These family members can be a positive influence in changing the juvenile’s behaviour and in preventing future offending

According to the Oxford dictionary:

http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/will_1

5 used for stating what you think is probably true

That'll be the doctor now.
You'll have had dinner already, I suppose.

6 used for stating what is generally true

If it's made of wood it will float.
Engines won't run without lubricants.

In the excerpt above what does "will" express: probability, general truth or simple future tense?

Thank you.
Klpno
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 17 Jun 2007
Posts: 496

probability, general truth or simple future tense? #2 (permalink) Sat Jan 14, 2012 22:23 pm   probability, general truth or simple future tense?
 

This seems tricky to explain precisely, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if you got different answers from different people. To me, it is stating a general truth but through the medium of the speaker's belief/expectation. So, it is more objective and factual than "I think", "I suppose, "probably", "in my view" and all those kinds of things, but less so than the version without "will". There is also a sense of "If you investigate these people you will find that..."
Dozy
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 17 Jun 2011
Posts: 3315
Location: UK

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probability, general truth or simple future tense? #3 (permalink) Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:44 am   probability, general truth or simple future tense?
 

Thank you, Dozy.
Klpno
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 17 Jun 2007
Posts: 496

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