HSK1 Grammar: Modal Verb "会②" — Will / Possibility
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 | 会① huì — Can (skill) | 能 néng — Can (ability / circumstance) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Prediction / likelihood / future expectation | Learned skill or acquired ability | Physical ability, permission, or circumstance allowing action |
| Key question | "Will it happen?" | "Have you learned how to do it?" | "Are you able to / allowed to / is it possible right now?" |
| Example | 明天会下雨。 Míngtiān huì xià yǔ. It will rain tomorrow. |
我会说中文。 Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén. I can speak Chinese. (I've learned it.) |
我现在能来。 Wǒ xiànzài néng lái. I can come now. (I'm free / it's possible.) |
| Negative | 不会下雨。 bù huì xià yǔ It won't rain. unlikely to rain. |
不会游泳。 bù huì yóu yǒng Can't swim. (never learned) |
不能来。 bù néng lái Can't come. (something prevents it) |
| Context clue | Future / prediction context Often with 明天, 以后, 今天 |
Skill context Often with languages, sports, arts |
Situation / condition context Often with 现在, 今天, 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 (skill)
说speak
中文Chinese
但是but
不会can't (skill)
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 (skill)
开车drive
但是but
今天today
不能cannot (circumstance)
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 / it won't happen
的(affirming particle)
你you
不用no 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. It will rain tomorrow.
2. He will come. (add 的 for emphasis)
3. Will you go?
4. She won't come.
5. Will mom come home today?
6. Will he come tomorrow or not?
Exercise 2: English to Chinese Translation
Translate the following sentences into Chinese (use characters).
1. It will rain tomorrow. (use 会②)
2. She won't come. (use 不会)
3. I can speak Chinese. (use 会① — skill)
4. I can't drive today. (use 不能 — circumstance)
5. The weather will be good. (add 的)
Exercise 3: Listening Practice
Listen to the audio and write what you hear. First 4 questions: Write in Chinese. Last 4 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 | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 好 | hǎo | good / fine / well |
📅 Time Words
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today |
📦 Nouns
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather | |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese (language) | |
| 日文 | Rìwén | Japanese (language) |
👤 Pronouns & Particles
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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:
❌ Wrong: 明天下雨。(Míngtiān xià yǔ.) — No modal verb — sounds like a statement of fact, not a prediction
✅ Correct: 明天会下雨。(Míngtiān huì xià yǔ.) — Use 会 to express 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!)
