willing

A person who is willing to do something agrees to do it. He or she is agreeable. This word looks like a verb, but it’s actually an adjective. Notice that the word "willing" is almost always followed by an infinitive. (What is an infinitive?)

Some examples:

• Are you willing to work hard?
• I’m willing to help you. (I’m happy to help you.)
• We need to find someone who is willing to volunteer for something that’s really challenging.
• Sarah says she’s willing and able to take on the challenge. (The words "willing" and "able" are often used together.)
• Pedro said he was willing to do whatever he had to do in order to stay in the United States.
• Vanessa said she was willing to marry Matt, but she wasn’t very enthusiastic about it.
• What are you willing to do in order to be successful?
• I’m sorry. I’m not willing to do that.
• I’m not willing to make that kind of a sacrifice.

The word "willingly" is an adverb.

• People who watch movies willingly suspend their belief in what’s real and what’s fake.
• The man arrested would not go to jail willingly. He fought every inch of the way there.

He’s willing to deliver newspapers in order to make some extra money.

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Published on August 23, 2017