Dear Ken
Communication expert KEN TAYLOR answers your questions about business English. This month, he looks at the use of “will” and “shall” and at building good business relationships.
MEDIUM AUDIO PLUS Dear Ken
I always mix up the auxiliary verbs “shall” and “will”. Unfortunately, the grammar books I have consulted don’t agree on how to use these words. I would be very grateful if you could help me. Regards
Carolyn E.
Dear Carolyn
I agree that it is very easy to confuse “shall” and “will”. This is partly because their usage has changed slightly over the years, and some grammar books have not kept up to date.
“Will” has three main uses:
1. It can be used for forecasting or predicting or for giving an order for the future:
I think it will rain tomorrow.
Don’t ring now. They will be having lunch. You will start work next Monday.
2. It can be used to show willingness or an intention to do something, to promise or threaten something, or to extend an invitation or request:
Don’t worry. He will be happy to deliver the message for you.
You will pay for that.
Will you have some more soup?
3. It can be used to describe habits and certain
properties or forms of behaviour: He’s a happy child. He will sit and play by himself for hours.
Water will boil at 100 °C.
Don’t forget that “will” is often shortened to “’ll” and that the negative may be expressed as “won’t”. Now let’s look at “shall”.
1. “Shall” is used mainly to express the future in the first person singular and plural: “I shall call you as soon as I arrive.” But these days, people commonly use “will” instead.
2. Use “shall” not “will” when making offers or suggestions:
Shall I open the window?
Shall we go to the cinema this evening?
“Shall” is also contracted to “’ll”, and “shan’t” is the negative form.
You still sometimes hear people using “shall” in the second or third person, as in the sentence “You shall have my answer by next Friday”, but it now sounds rather old-fashioned. Usually you can find other ways of expressing the same ideas — often in sentences with “will”. You still see the “shall” form in legal documents, however.
I hope this explanation was not too complicated. If anything is still unclear, do get back to me. I shall await your mail.
All the best
Ken