The Use of Shall and Will

"Shall" originally meant "owe" and, therefore, expressed obligation. But, as time passed, its significance was softened to express simple futurity with the first person; and a promise, a threat, a command or a resolve, with the second and the third person; as,

1. I shall be glad to see you. (Simple Futurity).
2. Thou shalt not steal. (Command).
3. He shall be charged with this offence before he magistrate. (Third & Resolve).
4. Kings shall fall down before him. (Promise).

"Will" originally expressed a wish or an intention or a resolution on the part of the speaker. But in current English, it expresses self-determination with the first person; and simple futurity, with the second and the third person; as,

1. He will readily find the book. He will return before long. (Simple Futurity).
2. If can do you any service, I will. Among traitors we will not dwell. (Self-determination).

The foregoing discussion clearly shows the two forms of the future tense:

• 1) That which expresses the simple future without reference to the will of the agent; and
  2) that which expresses the future of special volition, as in promise, threat, command or resolve.

But, in fact there are three kinds of Future actions:

1. The Simple future;
2. The future of volition or determination; and
3. the future of obligation or necessity.

And there are but two Auxiliaries-- "shall" and "will" to express these three futures. It is this defect that gives rise to all difficulty and confusion in the use of "shall" and "will".

The following points may, perhaps, be helpful in using "shall" and "will" without any confusion;

• The simple future should be used as follows;
  1. To express doubtful events; as,

     She will, probably, send her application tomorrow.
     Perhaps we shall call on you at 9am.

  2. To express feelings, because they do not generally depend on an act of our will; as,

     I shall be pleased to meet your friend.
     He will lose his temper on reading this letter.

  3. To express such necessary Future events as do not depend on the will of the agent; as,

     She will be twelve years old on the 1^st of June.

• The future of volition or determination should be used as follows;
  1. To express a command, a threat or a determination; as,

     Thou shalt not steal.

  2. To express a promise implying a prophecy; as,

     If I can do you any service, I will.

The sum and substance of this discussion may, now, be given as follows;

1. When a speaker wants to express simple futurity, he uses "shall" for himself; and "will" for others.
2. When the agents will control the action, he uses "will" for himself; and "shall" for others.

But remember that "will" cannot be used in questions with the first person. Thus it is wrong to say; will we? It should be; shall we?