Languages and Linguistics

Lionel Mandrake

(4,076 posts)

5. There is a real difference between shall and will.

Sun Jul 28, 2019, 03:20 PM

Jul 2019

"Will we dance?" would be asking for a prediction, unlike "Shall we dance?"
"Shall I open the door for you?" is similarly distinct from "Will I open the door for you?"
"Boys will be boys" can't be replaced with "Boys shall be boys".
"Thou shalt not kill" can't be replaced with "Thou wilt not kill".
"Shall" can express obligation, and "will" can express volition, but not the other way around.

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My 1950s miseducation in English. [View all] Lionel Mandrake Jul 2019 OP

Back then we also had to learn another language too. safeinOhio Jul 2019 #1

I remember being super confused by the same distinctions between shall and will (also school in 50s) bobbieinok Jul 2019 #2

Shall We Dance? delisen Jul 2019 #3

There is a real difference between shall and will. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2019 #5

Thank you...love language lessons! Karadeniz Jul 2019 #4

You're quite welcome. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2019 #6

Grammars have functions and purposes. Igel Jul 2019 #7

You have interesting things to say, as always. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2019 #8

My high school freshman English teacher PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2019 #9

"Shan't" sounds archaic to me, Lionel Mandrake Aug 2019 #10

My English teacher was probably in her early 50's at that point, PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2019 #11

Yes, it's a grave error to carelessly split an infinitive. Lionel Mandrake Aug 2019 #12

Bingo! PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2019 #13