shall
modal verb /ʃəl/, strong form /ʃæl/
/ʃəl/, strong form /ʃæl/
(especially British English)Verb Forms
| shall not | |
| shan't | /ʃɑːnt/ /ʃænt/ |
| past simple should | /ʃʊd/ /ʃʊd/ |
| should not | |
| shouldn't |
- (becoming old-fashioned) used with I and we for talking about or predicting the future
- This time next week I shall be in Scotland.
- We shan't be gone long.
- I said that I should be pleased to help.
- used in questions with I and we for making offers or suggestions or asking advice
- Shall I send you the book?
- What shall we do this weekend?
- Let's look at it again, shall we?
Grammar Point shall / willshall / will- In modern English the traditional difference between shall and will has almost disappeared, and shall is not used very much at all, especially in North American English. Shall is now only used with I and we, and often sounds formal and old-fashioned. People are more likely to say:
- I’ll (= I will) be late
- ‘You’ll (= you will) apologize immediately.’
- ‘No I won’t!’
- In British English shall is still used with I and we in questions or when you want to make a suggestion or an offer:
- What shall I wear to the party?
- Shall we order some coffee?
- I’ll drive, shall I?
Express Yourself Offering to do somethingOffering to do somethingThere are various ways of offering and accepting help:Topics Suggestions and advicea2- Would you like me to help you with that?
- Can I give you a hand?
- Can I help you with that?
- Shall I carry that for you?
- Would it help if I spoke to Julie before you call her?
- Let me take your bag.
- If there's anything I can do (to help), let me know.
- That's very kind/nice/generous/thoughtful of you. Thank you.
- It's all right, thank you. I can manage/do it.
- Thanks. That would be very helpful.
- (old-fashioned or formal) used to show that you are determined, or to give an order or instruction
- He is determined that you shall succeed.
- Candidates shall remain in their seats until all the papers have been collected.
Grammar Point modal verbsmodal verbs- The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would. Dare, need, have to and used to also share some of the features of modal verbs.
- Modal verbs have only one form. They have no -ing or -ed forms and do not add -s to the 3rd person singular form:
- He can speak three languages.
- She will try and visit tomorrow.
- Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions are ought to, have to and used to:
- You must find a job.
- You ought to stop smoking.
- I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago.
- Questions are formed without do/does in the present, or did in the past:
- Can I invite Mary?
- Should I have invited Mary?
- Negative sentences are formed with not or the short form -n’t and do not use do/does or did.
Word OriginOld English sceal, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zal and German soll, from a base meaning ‘owe’.