shall

English

Etymology

(deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English sceal. Compare Dutch zal.

Pronunciation

• (stressed) , Template:SAMPA
• (unstressed) , Template:SAMPA

• noicon

  (file)

Verb

1. (deprecated template usage) Used before a verb to indicate the simple future tense, particularly in the first person singular or plural.

   I shall sing in the choir tomorrow

2. Used similarly to indicate determination or obligation, particularly in the second and third persons singular and plural.

   (determination): You shall go to the ball!

   (obligation): Citizens shall provide proof of identity.

3. Used in questions to suggest a possible future action.

   Shall we go out later?

4. Template:obsolete To owe.

(Can we add an example for this sense?)

Usage notes

• Shall is now rare in North America and may be considered formal or pompous outside of certain legal uses or in a parody of British English speakers. Will is now the preferred auxiliary verb for the future tense.

• In the past, will and shall have been used similarly as auxiliary verbs for the future tense. The simple future tense traditionally uses shall for the first person ("I" and "we"), and will for the second and third persons.

I shall go.

You will go.

• An emphatic future tense, with a sense of (deprecated template usage) must, reverses the two words, using will for the first person and shall for the second and third person.

I will go.

You shall go.

• Usage can be reversed in questions and in dependent clauses—especially with indirect discourse. For example: Shall you do it? is equivalent in meaning to Will you do it? as it anticipates your response I shall do it. Or: he says that he shall win or he expects that he shall win report his saying I shall win, not I will win.

Translations

indicating the simple future tense

• Dutch: zullen (nl)
• French: shall followed by the infinitive is translated using the future tense

  I shall sing tomorrow - Je chanterai demain

• Italian: shall followed by the infinitive is translated using the future tense

  I shall sing tomorrow - Canterò domani

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian: skulle (no)
• West Frisian:

indicating determination or obligation

• French: (indicating determination) shall followed by the infinitive is translated using the future tense, which can be emphasised using "bien" or a similar adverbial construction; (indicating obligation) devoir, être obligé de

  You shall go to the ball! - Mais tu iras bien au bal! or Ah oui, tu iras au bal!

  Citizens shall provide identity - Les citoyens doivent fournir une pièce d'identité or Les citoyens sont obligés de fournir une pièce d'identité

• Italian: (indicating determination) shall followed by the infinitive is translated using the future tense, which can be emphasised using "sì che" or a similar adverbial construction; (indicating obligation) dovere, essere obbligato di

  You shall go to the ball! - Sì che andrai al ballo!

  Citizens shall provide identity - I cittadini devono fornire identificazione or I cittadini sono obbligati a fornire identificazione

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian: skulle (no)

in questions to suggest a possible future action

• French: shall followed by the infinitive is translated by si and the imperfect tense, or, informally, without si and with the present tense

  Shall we go out later? - Si nous sortions plus tard? or Sortons plus tard?

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: shall followed by the infinitive is translated by the present tense

  Shall we go out later? - Usciamo più tardi?

• Norwegian: skulle (no)

See also

• ought
• shalt
• shan't
• should
• will
• Appendix:English tag questions

Anagrams

• halls