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Search results for 'shall':

shall auxiliary verb expressing: 1 the future tense of other verbs, especially when the subject is I or we. 2 determination, intention, certainty, and obligation, especially when the subject is you, he, she, it or they • They shall succeed • You shall have what you want • He shall become king • You shall not kill. 3 a question implying future action, often with the sense of an offer or suggestion, especially when the subject is I or we • What shall we do? • Shall I give you a hand? See note on next page. See also should, will1.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon sceal.

shall

The rule about shall and will used to be as follows: to express the simple future, use shall with I and we, and will with you, he, she, it and they; to express permission, obligation or determination, use will with I and we, and shall with you, he, she, it and they.

Nowadays, I will and we will are commonly used to express the simple future.

Note that shall is often used in questions in the second person to show that the question is really a neutral request for information rather than a request that something be done • Shall you tell him about it?