Shall we? 1

[Dimandja]

What exactly are the differences between "will" and "shall"?

I will do it.
I shall do it.

Are these two sentences conveying different meanings.

 

[donbott]

I've usually heard "shall" used in a question "Shall we Dance?", then used in reply to the question. By itself it sounds more emphatic than "will".

DonBott

 

[SF0751]

There is an excellent article on this subject on Wikipedia. In essence, shall is used to denote obligation, necessity or permission, and will is used to denote resolve or willingness.


Susan
"People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

 

[Stella740pl]

I remeber studying it in high school, but don't remeber what's the exact differences are. If I am not mistaken, the difference is in the usage, "shall" is used in the first person [singular?] form, "will" in the 2nd and 3rd (correct me someone, please, it's been a few years already since high school).

What I also can add is as far as I know "shall" is not actually used in USA any more, so now it's mainly a UK thing.

 

[Stella740pl]

Oh! Nice article, Susan. So I am not completely off base. Just a tiny bit .

 

[kmcginn]

I too learned it as Stella740pl did. Shall is used with the first person (I, we) and will is used with 2nd (you) and 3rd (he, she, it, they). I also learned that for emphasis, you change them.

Of course, I learned that many, many years ago and as with everything else, grammar has evolved. I think now, it is common to use will for everyday, informal use, and shall for more emphasis.

 

[MikeBarone]

I write procedures that dictate how roles and responsibilities. When the word SHALL appears, the person is expected to do it. If I write MAY, they are not obligated to perform this task. It is a recommendation.

I like what I read regarding the word WILL being associated to the persons resolve, it makes perfect sense!

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

"One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die."

- Evelyn Waugh

 

[Stella740pl]

I write procedures that dictate how roles and responsibilities [do what?].

 

[MikeBarone]

Opps, thanks, I rewrote that sentence and left HOW in there by accident.

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

"One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die."

- Evelyn Waugh