Will vs Shall

Question

Can anyone explain me about the preferences between wiil and shall .

Ticce · Accepted Answer

First of all, we need to classify them into 2 groups.

1) Will/shall = auxiliary verbs
Shall is used with - I and We (however, will can be also used)

2) Will/shall = modal verbs
Shall = should
Shall I open the window?
Shall we go there tonight?

(It can also be used with other pronouns, however, some people say it is not correct)

Shall he take it upstairs?
Each party shall give one month's notice in writing in the event of termination.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Will
1 Polite request
Will you do it for me?

2 Will not = refuses to
The door won't open. - The door refuses to get opened.
or
Wouldn't

He wouldn't stop - He refused to stop (PAST)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

These are the most popular differences

Anonymous · Answer

thanks

Philip · Answer

Years ago, 'shall' was reserved for first person of the future tense, using 'will' for second and third. The exception to this is that they were reversed to show emphasis. MacArthur, in his famous speech, thought he was being emphatic when he said, "I shall return". He actually should have said "will".

I believe this distinction is nearly archaic now, at least in AmEng.

Anonymous · Answer

Sir:

May I respectfully submit that General MacArthur was correct in the use of "shall"?

The grammarian Wilson Follett says that sometimes shall "attains an actually higher

concentration of resolve than" will.

Professor Follett gives this example: We shall take legal measures. He says that

the shall "invests simple fact with a more urgent intention than would be shown by the

conventional assertion of will."

As you know, Sir Winston Churchill famously promised:

We shall never surrender.

Some years ago, an American language expert (whom I shall not

name) had the temerity to write that Sir Winston should have used

will. With complete respect, I submit that Sir Winston understood

English better than that well-meaning expert.

Thank you

V S Rao · Answer

Dear Ramkryp,

Generally shall is used in first person, and will in second and third person.
1.I shall go
2.you will go
3.He will go

Will - if used in first person, the following are the meanings:

1.Willingness : I will help the poor.
2.Promise : I will behave well.
3.Duty : We will be united.
4.Threat : I will punish you.

Shall - The following are the meanings, if used in second and third person
1.Command : you shall go ; He shall go.
2.Promise : you shall have my help ; He shall have a holiday.
3.Determination : You shall behave well.
4.Duty : you shall be kind to the poor ; All shall obey the law
5.Threat : You shall be punished ; He shall suffer for this

Very important.

1.You should not question with "will" in first person, and "shall" in second person.
Eg: Will I go? (Wrong) ; Shall I go? ( right)
Shall he come? (Wrong) ; Will he come? ( right)

Regards,
Sri

Ticce · Answer

sreesri1.You should not question with "will" in first person, and "shall" in second person.
Eg: Will I go? (Wrong) ; Shall I go? ( right)
Shall he come? (Wrong) ; Will he come? ( right)

It is a popular idea, however, it is used this way sometimes.

Shall the messenger wait?

CalifJim · Answer

ramkrypCan anyone explain me about the preferences between wiil and shall .

If you are living in the U.S. you will sometimes hear shall in a suggestion posed as a first person question, thus:

Shall we meet again next Tuesday?

If you read a legal document, you might also see shall, where it has imperative force.

Other than in these sorts of expressions you will almost never hear the word shall, and if you do it is simply a substitute for will. You will almost certainly never hear the negative contraction shan't. You can live your entire life in the U.S. without ever using shall.

CJ

Will vs Shall

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