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Wangqh2696122 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Shall or may?

Here is a multiple choice:

--I haven't got the reference book yet, but I'll have a test on the subject subject next month.
--Don't worry. You will ___ it by Friday.
A. shall B. may

shall or may? What's the difference?
  

Top answer

I think you mistyped your question. Did you mean something like this: "Don't worry. " ?

— Mr Wordy

  • I think you mistyped your question.
  • Did you mean something like this: "Don't worry.
  • " ?
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5 Answers
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I think you mistyped your question. Did you mean something like this:

"Don't worry. You ___ have it by Friday."

?
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Oh sorry. I mistyped. You are right.
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A: I haven't got the reference book yet, but I'll have a test on the subject next month.
B: Don't worry. You will ___ have it by Friday.

There is not really enough context to choose between 'shall' and 'may'. If B says 'shall', s/he is assuring A that the book will arrive in time. If B says 'may', s/he is indicating the possibility that the book will arrive in time. 'Don'
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In reality, almost no one uses "shall" in everyday conversational English, except in questions like "Shall we go now?" I don't know anyone who would say "You shall have it by Friday"; it sounds like something from an old-fashioned book. Everyone I know would say "You'll / You will have it by Friday."
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Thank you, Mr W. I had thought that 'shall' was alive and well in BrE.
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