These are the only common forms of the verb will. Willed and wilt are rarely used.

You will regret your decision. I will go in spite of opposition. He willed the overthrow of the enemy. I will do what you wish.

In the first of these sentences, the act of regretting is asserted. The infinitive regret is the predicate attribute. The verb will is a copulative verb expressing future time. Will regret is a verb phrase.

In the second and third, determination is asserted; and in the fourth, a promise. The verbs will and willed are attributive transitive verbs and go, overthrow, and do are the objects. There are no verb phrases.

I would I were wiser.

He would go in spite of opposition.

I thought it would storm.

Often Mary would forget to prepare her lesson.

I would hear your voice.

In the first of these sentences, the transitive act of wishing is asserted. In the second, determination is asserted. In both would is an attributive transitive verb, and cannot be a part of the verb phrase.

In the latter part of the third sentence, storming is asserted; and in the fourth, forgetting is asserted. The verbals storm and forget are predicate attributes. In both would is a copulative verb. Would storm and would forget are verb phrases.

The fifth sentence may mean I wish to hear your voice, or I did hear your voice in the past. In the first case, would is attributive transitive and not a part of a verb phrase. In the second, it is copulative and a part of a verb phrase.

Exercise 296

Explain the use of will, would, shall, and should in these sentences and tell in each case whether the word is or is not a part of a verb phrase.

1. The train will start at six o'clock.

2. In spite of warnings he will skate on thin ice.

3. I will do this since you wish me to.

4. The president will be criticized for this act.

5. The sun will rise to-morrow at five o'clock.

6. She would sit for hours dreaming. (Two possible meanings).

7. She would go though we urged her to stay.

8. She would not help me.

9. I would more natures were like thine.

10. 1 thought this train would arrive on time.

11. I will forgive you if you show yourself penitent.