Cambridge Quayside Magdalene bridge

‘Shall’ or ‘will’?

The traditional rule is that shall is used with first person pronouns (i.e. I and we) to form the future tense, while will is used with second and third person forms (i.e. you, he, she, it, they). For example:

·         I shall be late.

·         They will not have enough food.

However, when it comes to expressing a strong determination to do something, the roles are reversed: will is used with the first person, and shall with the second and third. For example:

·         I will not tolerate such behaviour.

·         You shall go to the ball!

In practice, though, the two words are used more or less interchangeably, and this is now an acceptable part of standard British and American English; however, the word shall is now seldom used in any normal context in American English.

In practice, though, the two words are used more or less interchangeably, and this is now an acceptable part of standard British and American English; however, the word shall is now seldom used in any normal context in American English.

«Shall »  est utilisé pour indiquer  une action future, quand nous venons de décider de faire quelque chose. Quand nous disons "je vais faire quelque chose" nous annonçons notre décision. Il est le plus couramment utilisé dans les phrases avec "je" ou "nous", et se trouve souvent dans les suggestions, comme "Allons-nous aller?," "shall we go" "Shall" est aussi fréquemment utilisé dans des promesses ou des actions volontaires. En l’anglais formelle, il est utilisé pour décrire des événements futurs qui exprime souvent l’inévitable ou la prédestination. "Shall" est beaucoup plus fréquemment utilisés en l’anglais britannique que dans l'anglais américain. La forme négative "Shall not" (contractée) est "SHAN’T."

“Shall is used to indicate future action, when we've just decided to do something. When we say "I'll do something" we announce our decision. It is most commonly used in sentences with “I” or “we,” and is often found in suggestions, such as “Shall we go?” “Shall” is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of “shall” to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. ”Shall” is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English.

 Examples:

• Shall I help you? suggestion (Dois-je vous aider?)
• I shall never forget where I came from. promise (Je ne oublierai jamais d'où je venais.)
• He shall become our next king. Predestination (Il doit devenir notre prochain roi.)
• I'm afraid Mr. Smith shall become our new director. Inevitability (J'ai peur M. Smith deviendra notre nouveau directeur.)