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Nina_Nia Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Shall in American English
Hello,
How is 'shall' used in American English ?
This is not American use of it, is it?
"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. "Shall" is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English; Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formalized language.
As far as I know, when shall is used with the second person singular it expresses; warning, order, and promise. Is it also common in American English? Does it express anything else with the second person singular?
How is 'shall' used in American English ?
This is not American use of it, is it?
"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. "Shall" is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English; Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formalized language.
As far as I know, when shall is used with the second person singular it expresses; warning, order, and promise. Is it also common in American English? Does it express anything else with the second person singular?
Top answer
"Shall" is rare in American English. If you never use it even once, no one will notice. ); and in embarrassing orotundities like MacArthur's "I shall return".
- "Shall" is rare in American English.
- If you never use it even once, no one will notice.
- ); and in embarrassing orotundities like MacArthur's "I shall return".
- Even outside the US where "shall" is common, its usage is confused to the point where you can use it or not for the most part without fear.
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1 Answers
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"Shall" is rare in American English. If you never use it even once, no one will notice. It is only ever seen in "Shall we go?" and the like, where it it expresses polite deference and urging with a taint of "tennis, anyone?" snootiness; in legal language to express obligation (The tenant shall ....); and in embarrassing orotundities like MacArthur's "I shall return".
Even outside the US w
Even outside the US w
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