In spoken and written English, contractions are commonly used to make language flow more naturally and sound more conversational. One such contraction isthey’ll, which often appears in both casual speech and formal contexts. Despite its frequent use, some learners of English may not fully understand its exact structure, meaning, and proper usage. Knowing the definition ofthey’lland when to use it correctly is important for anyone who wants to communicate clearly and effectively in English. This topic provides a detailed breakdown of the contraction, how it functions grammatically, and where it fits into everyday communication.
What Does They’ll” Mean?
Contraction Definition
They’llis a contraction, or shortened form, of the wordsthey willorthey shall. It is formed by combining the subject pronoun they with the auxiliary verb will or shall and replacing the missing letters with an apostrophe.
- They’ll = They will
- They’ll = They shall(used rarely in modern English)
The apostrophe in they’ll stands for the missing letters wi or sha depending on whether the full version is they will or they shall. However, in modern English usage, they’ll most commonly means they will.
Function in Sentences
The contraction they’ll is typically used to refer to a group of people (or sometimes animals or objects treated as plural) who will do something in the future. The word acts as a subject and auxiliary verb combined, helping form the future tense.
- ExampleThey’ll arrive at noon. (They will arrive at noon.)
- ExampleThey’ll be happy to see you. (They will be happy to see you.)
In both examples, they’ll serves as the future auxiliary verb connected to the subject they. This is one of the most common uses of auxiliary verbs in English grammar.
When to Use “They’ll”
Talking About Future Actions
Use they’ll when you want to express an action or state that will happen in the future. It’s often used with verbs that describe action or condition.
- They’ll finish the project by Friday.
- They’ll call you later.
This type of usage is extremely common in conversation, planning, promises, and predictions.
Making Predictions or Assumptions
Sometimes they’ll is used to express predictions or assumptions about what someone is likely to do or experience.
- They’ll probably enjoy the movie.
- They’ll be at the airport by now.
In these contexts, they’ll reflects the speaker’s opinion or expectation, rather than a confirmed future plan.
Conditional Statements
They’ll also appears in conditional (if-then) statements, where an action is dependent on another condition.
- If they leave now, they’ll get there on time.
- They’ll cancel the event if it rains.
Using they’ll in conditional sentences helps express the future consequences of certain conditions or events.
Grammatical Structure
Pronoun and Auxiliary Verb
In the contraction they’ll, the word they is a subject pronoun used for plural nouns, and will is a modal auxiliary verb used to form the simple future tense. The combination helps form a compound verb phrase that leads into the main verb of the sentence.
- They’ll travel→ they (subject) + will (auxiliary) + travel (main verb)
- They’ll be staying→ they + will + be staying (present continuous for future)
Negation Form
The negative form of they’ll isthey won’t, which stands for they will not.
- They won’t attend the meeting.
- They won’t be available tomorrow.
Note that they’ll not is grammatically correct but rarely used in modern English. Native speakers almost always prefer they won’t.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Spelling and Punctuation
It’s important to place the apostrophe correctly when writing they’ll. A common mistake is omitting the apostrophe or putting it in the wrong place.
- CorrectThey’ll join us for dinner.
- IncorrectTheyll join us for dinner.
The apostrophe replaces the missing letters wi in will and should never be omitted in formal writing.
Misusing with Singular Nouns
Because they is a plural pronoun, make sure the noun it replaces is also plural unless you’re using the singular they, which is accepted in modern usage for gender neutrality.
- PluralThe students said they’ll come early. (Correct)
- Singular NeutralSomeone left their bag. They’ll probably come back for it. (Also correct)
Pronunciation of “They’ll”
How It Sounds
They’ll is pronounced as /ðeɪl/, sounding like thayl. The contraction compresses the two words into one smooth syllable, which makes it more fluid in speech.
- They’ll know the answer. → /ðeɪl noʊ ði ˈænsər/
Using contractions like they’ll helps native speakers maintain a natural rhythm when speaking.
Use in Different Contexts
Everyday Conversation
Contractions like they’ll are more commonly used in spoken language than in formal writing. In casual conversations, using they’ll sounds natural and friendly.
- They’ll pick us up after dinner.
- I think they’ll do great on the test.
Formal Writing
In formal documents, academic papers, or professional communication, it’s generally better to write out the full form they will.
- FormalThey will attend the conference next week.
- InformalThey’ll attend the conference next week.
However, in letters, emails, or blog posts with a conversational tone, using they’ll is acceptable and even preferred for a more approachable feel.
Understanding the definition of they’ll is essential for building fluent and correct English sentences, especially when talking about the future. They’ll is a contraction of they will or they shall, most often used to describe future actions, predictions, or conditional events. It combines the subject pronoun and auxiliary verb into a single, efficient word that improves the flow of conversation and writing. While appropriate for casual or semi-formal communication, it’s important to use the full form in highly formal contexts. By mastering the use of they’ll, speakers and writers alike can enhance clarity, save time, and communicate with greater naturalness in English.