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Shall

Shall

Date: Oct 26 2007

Topic: British English

Author: rhyme_reason

Lesson

We don't use 'Shall' very frequently in modern English, particularly in American English.

It is used to make offers and suggestions and to ask for advice.

  • What time shall we meet?
  • Shall we vote on it now?
  • What dress shall I wear?
  • Shall I open the window?

You only really need to know that about 'shall' in modern English. Read the rest of this only if you want to know more about how some older speakers still use 'shall'.

In older grammar, 'shall' was used as an alternative to 'will' with 'I' and 'we'. Today, 'will' is normally used. When we do use 'shall', it has an idea of a more personal, subjective future.

  • I shall go to see the boss and I shall ask him to explain this decision.

Notice that the negative of 'shall' can be 'shall not' or 'shan't' – though the second one is now very rare in American English.

  • I don't like these people and I shall not go to their party.
  • I shan't object if you go without me.

Comments

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tinchoss

tinchoss

Argentina

Short and well done

06:57 PM Aug 21 2008 |

leely

leely

China

 get knowledge from u  thx

07:50 AM Aug 21 2008 |

collage girl

Oman

thank u for the lesson

i don't use " shall " when i speak .. but i'll start to use it now

shall i do?

ha ha ha

06:53 AM Aug 21 2008 |

KaTuRn

KaTuRn

Thailand

Oh I see :)

Thank you so much ^^

03:37 AM Aug 21 2008 |

LOve ANgel

LOve ANgel

Pakistan

gud itz very useful for me keep on posting …...Smile

03:26 PM Aug 20 2008 |

ltliuliu

China

so useful,thanks a lot!

07:15 AM Aug 19 2008 |

lyanhua

Mongolia

yes it's useful for me, i'm mongolian girl, i need to learn more thanks for the lesson

03:26 AM Aug 19 2008 |

lovely kato

Egypt

hi i'm egyptian and i wanna be a really good english teacher so the lessons are useful stuff 

 

02:57 PM Aug 18 2008 |

liyiwei

liyiwei

China

I know!

01:39 PM Aug 15 2008 |

preity68

preity68

India

good job done….its realy helpfulSmile

02:49 PM Mar 12 2008 |

chanphyu

chanphyu

Singapore

Very Good. These are basic english so we need to know exactly about it. I think you have to make it more interesting.

06:38 AM Jan 22 2008 |

nrewndj

Russian Federation

I am fully agree with you that "shall" is not so frequently use as it used to.

05:21 AM Jan 22 2008 |

alice197

alice197

China

yeah,the course of urs is so useful,i like it and i will view ur pages often.Thank u

07:49 AM Jan 18 2008 |

ezgifilik

Turkey

hi! this is ezgi. i am turk. i want to be a english teacher.so your lessons are important for me.thanks for everything.see you soon!

09:04 PM Dec 19 2007 |

kittyzghz

kittyzghz

China

Thank you very much, the lesson is very useful for me! :)

12:17 PM Nov 03 2007 |

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