Use of will and shall

Why the use of will and shall confuse us?

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Generally, the use of will and shall appear to anticipate something or commit something to the future. Shall is used with 1st person and will with the others.

But, when we listen to somebody talking and is violating the rules, as we have learned in traditional grammar. Since grammar renders the use of the modal verb shall with the first person I and we. But in the real-world people are putting it differently. Like, with the first person “I and we”, they are using the modal verb “will”. This question is lingering in the mind in the quest for satisfactory results about the use of will and shall.

Use of will and shall graph

Clarity on the use of will and shall

Certainly, the trend causes to the language too. Since the graph as demonstrated renders the trend that how the usage of will increase by the passage of the time.

Use of shall

Traditionally and formally the use of shall appears with the first person pronoun. The use of “shall” is more formal in usage.

  • I shall go.
  • We shall work on it.

But it is limiting its usage. In the American tradition use of shall is lacking. But the majority of British still follow the traditional patterns.

Remember: most of the computer strategy is designed and implemented by the American. Hence typing the model verb “will” with “I” does not show errors and we find it tough to understand.

Use of will

Similarly, the use of will is with all persons except the first person “I and we”.

  • He will go tomorrow.
  • They will finish this project.
  • You will present this data.
  • She will manage this.

Some facts about the use of will and shall

As we know there are many models to use in the present and past. But in the future, we are left with only two as will and shall.

In the present if we need to emphasize or show importance we use.

  • You should do it. (in general terms)
  • You must do it. (emphasizing or showing priority)

But in the present when we need to emphasize or show importance. We need to switch the place of shall and will with each other.

Shall and will for emphasis

Clearly, it reveals that the use of will shall exchange its position to emphasize the sentence or to express the importance.

  • You shall finish this work by end of the day. (showing duty, importance, or emphasizing)
  • We will finish this work by end of the day. (showing duty, importance, or emphasizing).

Shall for the suggestion.

Surely, shall is still used in the formation of questions. But to express the meaning of suggestion and advice.

For example,

  • Shall we go now?
  • Shall we go to the movie later?
  • Who shall we invite to the party?
  • What shall we do after we’ve watched the film?

Remember: in the all sentence as mentioned the meaning of shall is similar to the should, but not exactly.

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