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Sano Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
What do I do now? vs. What shall I do now?
I have met a lof sentences with Question-word + do I/we...? structures (What do I do if I need emergency dental treatment? What do I read next? What do we do now? How do I register? How do I use it? etc.).
Is there any difference in meaning if I use "shall" instead of "do" in these sentences?
Is there any difference in meaning if I use "shall" instead of "do" in these sentences?
Top answer
' This sounds like the decision is not yours to make. Perhaps your professor will tell you what you must read next. ' 'Shall' here indicates your 'will', your determination, are involved.
- ' This sounds like the decision is not yours to make.
- Perhaps your professor will tell you what you must read next.
- ' 'Shall' here indicates your 'will', your determination, are involved.
- It suggests the choice is yours to make.
- In my experience, 'shall' is not commonly used in NAmE.
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3 Answers
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Hi,
What do I read next?' This sounds like the decision is not yours to make. Perhaps your professor will tell you what you must read next.
What shall I read next?' 'Shall' here indicates your 'will', your determination, are involved. It suggests the choice is yours to make.
In my experience, 'shall' is not commo
What do I read next?' This sounds like the decision is not yours to make. Perhaps your professor will tell you what you must read next.
What shall I read next?' 'Shall' here indicates your 'will', your determination, are involved. It suggests the choice is yours to make.
In my experience, 'shall' is not commo
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Dear friends,
I have also heard «What shall I...» when it is the choice of another person. You may say to your superior, «What shall I do now?». Perhaps a student may say to a professor, «What shall I read next?».
Kind regards,
I have also heard «What shall I...» when it is the choice of another person. You may say to your superior, «What shall I do now?». Perhaps a student may say to a professor, «What shall I read next?».
Kind regards,
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There are lots of difficulties in the use of shall. It's partly regional and partly proscriptive.
In Standard Southern English:
Shall I put the light off? means Do you want me to put the light off?
Will I put the light off? means Guess if I'm going to put the light off.
In Scottish English Will I put the light off? means Do
In Standard Southern English:
Shall I put the light off? means Do you want me to put the light off?
Will I put the light off? means Guess if I'm going to put the light off.
In Scottish English Will I put the light off? means Do
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