would you please help me?

Question

Hello everybody, I do not really know whether this is the suitable place to put my questions or not.. but I  really rely on you to give me some explanations about what follows:- What is the difference between "will" and "shall"? also what meanings do they suggest and what is their appropriate usage (where to use each one of them)?I saw that some people use "shall" with the singular personal pronouns (he, she and it), is that possible? and if possible, how does the meaning change?Ex; She shall not help you anymore.- What is the difference between "will" and "would"? also what meanings do they suggest and what is their appropriate usage (where to use each one of them)?I saw that some people use "would" to talk about things to take place in future time instead of  "will", is that possible? and if possible, how does the meaning change?Ex; I would see you there afternoon.That is all for now. Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Big topics, Need2CU.

One view from Strunk's The Elements of Style:

Shall. Will. In formal writing, the future tense requires shall for the first person, will for the second and third. The formula to express the speaker's belief regarding a future action or state is I shall; I will expresses determination or consent. A swimmer in distress cries, "I shall drown; no one will save me!" A suicide puts it the other way: "I will drown; no one shall save me!" In relaxed speech, however, the words shall and will are seldom used precisely; our ear guides us or fails to guide us, as the case may be, and we are quite likely to drown when we want to survive and survive when we want to drown.

One view from [url=http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/]Guide to Grammar and Writing[/url]:

Uses of Will and Would
In certain contexts, will and would are virtually interchangeable, but there are differences. Notice that the contracted form 'll is very frequently used for will.

Will can be used to express willingness:

I'll wash the dishes if you dry.
We're going to the movies. Will you join us?

It can also express intention (especially in the first person):

I'll do my exercises later on.

and prediction:

specific: The meeting will be over soon.
timeless: Humidity will ruin my hairdo.
habitual: The river will overflow its banks every spring.

Would can also be used to express willingness:

Would you please take off your hat?

It can also express insistence (rather rare, and with a strong stress on the word "would"):

Now you've ruined everything. You would act that way.

and characteristic activity:

customary: After work, he would walk to his home in West Hartford.
typical (casual): She would cause the whole family to be late, every time.

In a main clause, would can express a hypothetical meaning:

My cocker spaniel would weigh a ton if I let her eat what she wants.

Finally, would can express a sense of probability:

I hear a whistle. That would be the five o'clock train.

Need.2.C.U · Answer

Thank you very much, Mister Micawber...
I really appreciate your help because your post has really made a lot of ambiguous things clear.
Thanks again.

would you please help me?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions