# they'll

CEFR A1 · Pronoun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/theyll
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

the short way to say 'they will' or 'they shall'. You use it to talk about what a group of people or things is going to do in the future.

For teachers: a contraction of the third-person plural pronoun 'they' and the auxiliary verb 'will' or 'shall'. Used to indicate future tense or intent.

## Examples

- They'll arrive at the party around eight o'clock.
- If the weather stays clear, they'll finish the roof repairs by the end of the week.
- While the board members seem hesitant now, it is expected that they'll eventually reach a consensus once the final financial reports are presented.

## Pitfalls

- Not "they're will" but "they'll" — Learners sometimes confuse the contraction for 'they are' with the contraction for 'they will'.

## Usage notes

- A contraction used in speech and informal writing; in formal academic contexts, the full form 'they will' is preferred.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.