HSK1 Grammar: Modal Verb "会②" — Will / Possibility
Use this to: Use this to say something will probably happen.
1. Grammar Introduction
The modal verb 会 (huì) has two distinct meanings in Chinese. This lesson focuses on the second meaning: expressing likelihood, expectation, or prediction about the future — similar to "will" or "would" in English. It expresses what the speaker believes is going to happen or is likely to be true.
Subject + 会 + Verb / Adjective
Positive: 他会来。(Tā huì lái.) — He will come.
Negative: 他不会来。(Tā bú huì lái.) — He won't come. / He is unlikely to come.
Question: 他会来吗？(Tā huì lái ma?) — Will he come?
Negative: 他不会来。(Tā bú huì lái.) — He won't come. / He is unlikely to come.
Question: 他会来吗？(Tā huì lái ma?) — Will he come?
Key points for 会② (will / possibility):
- Expresses the speaker's prediction, expectation, or belief about what will happen — not just future tense.
- Often used with time words like 明天 (tomorrow), 以后 (later), 今天 (today): 他明天会来。(He will come tomorrow.)
- The negative form 不会 (bú huì) means "won't" or "it's unlikely that…" — also used to politely decline or reassure: 不会的！(It won't happen! / Don't worry!)
- Can be used with adjectives, not just verbs: 天气会好的。(The weather will be nice.)
- Often followed by the particle 的 (de) at the end of the sentence to soften and affirm the prediction: 他会来的。(He will definitely come.)
Comparing 会② (will) vs. 会① (can — learned skill) vs. 能 (can — ability / circumstance):
会② huì — Will
MeaningPrediction / likelihood / future expectation.
Key question"Will it happen?"
Example明天会下雨。
Míngtiān huì xià yǔ.
It will rain tomorrow.
Míngtiān huì xià yǔ.
It will rain tomorrow.
Negative不会下雨。
Bú huì xià yǔ.
It won't rain. / It is unlikely to rain.
Bú huì xià yǔ.
It won't rain. / It is unlikely to rain.
Context clueFuture / prediction context.
Often used with 明天, 以后, or 今天.
Often used with 明天, 以后, or 今天.
会① huì — Can (skill)
MeaningLearned skill or acquired ability.
Key question"Have you learned how to do it?"
Example我会说中文。
Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén.
I can speak Chinese. (I've learned it.)
Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén.
I can speak Chinese. (I've learned it.)
Negative不会游泳。
Bú huì yóuyǒng.
Can't swim. (Never learned.)
Bú huì yóuyǒng.
Can't swim. (Never learned.)
Context clueSkill context.
Often used with languages, sports, or arts.
Often used with languages, sports, or arts.
能 néng — Can (ability / circumstance)
MeaningPhysical ability, permission, or circumstances allowing an action.
Key question"Are you able to / allowed to / is it possible right now?"
Example我现在能来。
Wǒ xiànzài néng lái.
I can come now. (I'm free / it's possible.)
Wǒ xiànzài néng lái.
I can come now. (I'm free / it's possible.)
Negative不能来。
Bù néng lái.
Can't come. (Something prevents it.)
Bù néng lái.
Can't come. (Something prevents it.)
Context clueSituation / condition context.
Often used with 现在, 今天, or other circumstances.
Often used with 现在, 今天, or other circumstances.
Usage Scenarios:
- Predicting future events: 明天会下雨。(Míngtiān huì xià yǔ.) — It will rain tomorrow.
- Expressing expectation about a person: 他会来的。(Tā huì lái de.) — He will come. (I'm sure of it.)
- Saying something won't happen: 她不会来。(Tā bú huì lái.) — She won't come.
- Asking about future possibility: 你会去吗？(Nǐ huì qù ma?) — Will you go?
- Predicting a state or condition: 天气会好的。(Tiānqì huì hǎo de.) — The weather will be good.
- Reassuring someone: 不会的！(Bú huì de!) — It won't happen! / Don't worry!
- Contrast — 会① (skill): 我会开车。(Wǒ huì kāi chē.) — I can drive. (I've learned to drive.)
- Contrast — 能 (circumstance): 我今天不能开车。(Wǒ jīntiān bù néng kāi chē.) — I can't drive today. (e.g. I'm sick / no car available.)
2. Example Sentences
会② — prediction
明天会下雨。
明天tomorrow
会will (prediction)
下雨rain
。
It will rain tomorrow.
会② + 的 — confident prediction
他会来的。
他he
会will (prediction)
来come
的(affirming particle)
。
He will come. (I'm sure of it.)
不会 — won't / unlikely
她不会来。
她she
不会won't / unlikely to
来come
。
She won't come. / She is unlikely to come.
会② — question about future
你会去吗？
你you
会will (prediction)
去go
吗question particle
？
Will you go?
会② + adjective + 的
天气会好的。
天气weather
会will (prediction)
好good / fine
的(affirming particle)
。
The weather will be good. (Things will get better.)
会② — question with time word
妈妈今天会回家吗？
妈妈mom
今天today
会will (prediction)
回家come home
吗question particle
？
Will mom come home today?
会① — learned skill (contrast)
我会说中文，但是我不会说日文。
我I
会can
说speak
中文Chinese
，
但是but
我I
不会cannot
说speak
日文Japanese
。
I can speak Chinese, but I can't speak Japanese. (learned skills)
能 — circumstance (contrast)
我会开车，但是今天不能开车。
我I
会can
开车drive
，
但是but
今天today
不能cannot
开车drive
。
I know how to drive, but I can't drive today. (e.g. I'm sick / no car)
不会的 — reassurance
不会的，你不用担心。
不会won't happen
的particle
，
你you
不用do not need to
担心worry
。
It won't happen — you don't need to worry.
会不会 — affirmative-negative question
他明天会不会来？
他he
明天tomorrow
会不会will or won't?
来come
？
Will he come tomorrow or not? (affirmative-negative question form)
3. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Sentence Ordering
Click the words to form correct sentences.
1. I can speak Chinese, but I can't speak Japanese. (learned skills).
2. I know how to drive, but I can't drive today. (e.g. I'm sick / no car).
3. It won't happen — you don't need to worry.
4. Will he come tomorrow or not?
5. It will rain tomorrow.
6. He will come. (I'm sure of it.).
Exercise 2: English to Chinese Translation
Translate the following sentences into Chinese. Use characters.
1. She won't come. / She is unlikely to come.
2. Will you go?
3. The weather will be good. (Things will get better.).
4. Will mom come home today?
5. I can speak Chinese, but I can't speak Japanese. (learned skills).
Exercise 3: Listening Practice
Listen to the audio. First 4 questions: write in Chinese. Remaining questions: translate to English.
1. Listen and write in Chinese:
2. Listen and write in Chinese:
3. Listen and write in Chinese:
4. Listen and write in Chinese:
5. Listen and translate to English:
6. Listen and translate to English:
7. Listen and translate to English:
8. Listen and translate to English:
4. Vocabulary List
🔑 Modal Verbs (Grammar Focus)
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 会② | huì | will / would — prediction, likelihood, future expectation |
| 不会 | bú huì | won't / unlikely to (negative of 会②) |
| 会① | huì | can — learned skill or acquired ability |
| 能 | néng | can — physical ability, permission, or circumstance |
| 不能 | bù néng | can't — unable due to circumstance or not allowed |
🎯 Verbs
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 来 | lái | come |
| 去 | qù | go |
| 回家 | huí jiā | come home / return home |
| 下雨 | xià yǔ | rain / to rain |
| 说 | shuō | speak / say |
| 开车 | kāi chē | drive (a car) |
| 担心 | dānxīn | worry |
✨ Adjective
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 好 | hǎo | good / fine / well |
📅 Time Words
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today |
📦 Nouns
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese (language) |
| 日文 | Rìwén | Japanese (language) |
👤 Pronouns & Particles
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他 | tā | he / him |
| 她 | tā | she / her |
| 你 | nǐ | you |
| 我 | wǒ | I / me |
| 妈妈 | māma | mom |
| 的 | de | (affirming particle — used at end of prediction) |
| 但是 | dànshì | but |
| 不用 | bú yòng | no need to |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❓: 明天下雨。(Míngtiān xià yǔ.) — This can still sound future-oriented because 明天 already marks the time. To emphasize that it will happen, 会 is usually added.
✅ Correct: 明天会下雨。(Míngtiān huì xià yǔ.) — Use 会 to emphasize a prediction or expectation.
❌ Wrong (confusion): 我会游泳，但是今天不会游泳。— Using 不会 for "can't due to circumstance."
✅ Correct: 我会游泳，但是今天不能游泳。(Wǒ huì yóuyǒng, dànshì jīntiān bù néng yóuyǒng.) — Use 不能 when a situation prevents the action (not a lack of skill).
Quick reminder — the three modals:
• 会② 明天会下雨。→ prediction / will.
• 会① 我会说中文。→ learned skill / can.
• 能 今天我不能来。→ circumstance / allowed to / can right now.
🎉 Great job on completing this lesson!
Practice these sentences daily to master "会② (huì) — will"
加油！ (jiā yóu - Keep going!)