Verbs often confused 396. Shall and Will. (a) To express si | coммon мιѕтaĸeѕ
Verbs often confused
396. Shall and Will.
(a) To express simple futurity:
In the first person: Don't say: I will go tomorrow if it's fine. Say: I shall go tomorrow if it's fine.
In the second person: Don't say: She tells me you shall go tomorrow. Say: She tells me you will/'ll go tomorrow.
In the third person: Don't say: He shall go if he has permission. Say: He will/'ll go if he has permission.
(b) To express something more than simple futurity:
In the first person: Don't say: I have determined that I shall go. Say: I have determined that I will/'ll go.
In the second person: Don't say: You will/'ll go out if you are good. Say: You shall go out if you are good.
In the third person: Don't say: My mind is made up: he will/'ll go. Say: My mind is made up: he shall go.
To form the simple future, use "shall" with the first person and "will" with the second and third persons. "Will" in the first person denotes resolution or personal determination, and "shall" in the second and third persons denotes either a command or a promise.
Note: "Should", the past tense of "shall", and "would", the past tense of "will", have the same differences of meaning and use as the present forms "shall" and "will": I was afraid that I should fail. I promised that I would help him.
