Unit 29: - Future - Will/Shall
Future - Will/Shall
Will is a modal verb used to indicate future time. For example:
- It will be sunny tomorrow.
- The new restaurant will open next week.
Will comes after the subject and before the main verb, and in questions the
subject and will invert. Will often contracts to 'll, for
example he'll, they'll, and in negatives will not often contracts to won't.
Question
Affirmative
Will he stay at home tomorrow?
He will / He'll stay at home Will they be busy?
tomorrow.
They will / They'll be very busy.
Negative
I will not / won't stay at home
tomorrow.
They will not / won't be very busy.
Usage
Will is used for future predictions and facts. For example:
- We'll finish it by tonight.
- We have a lot of time. We won't be late.
- "Where will you go next year?" "I'll go to America."
Will is also used to make a spontaneous response. For example:
Offer: - "The telephone's ringing." "I'll answer it."
Promise: - "I'll never leave you" - "I'll give it to you tomorrow morning."
Request: - "Will you wait for me this evening?"
Will for requests is quite strong and often used when the expected answer is
"Yes". Otherwise can is more polite: "Can you wait for me this evening?"
Threat: - "You'll be sorry!"
Order: - "You will not eat my chocolate-chip cookies!"
Shall
Shall is used with only I and we to make questions. For example:
"Shall I open the window?"
It can also be used to make statements, but this is formal and old-fashioned.
"We shall arrive at 6.00."
Click below for exercises using will and shall.
Grammar Exercises
Complete the questions using will or shall.
Note: Shall is generally used in American English with I and we to make
offers and suggestions.
1. _____ I be able to see my house from the plane?
a) Will b) Shall
2. _____ I carry that suitcase for you? It looks heavy!
a) Will b) Shall
3. _____ we have enough money to support ourselves?
a) Will b) Shall
4. _____ Liz and Carol have Christmas dinner with their parents?
a) Will b) Shall
5. _____ we call it a day and continue working on the project tomorrow?
a) Will b) Shall
6. _____ I have any problems accessing my account information over the
Internet?
a) Will b) Shall
7. _____ Mr. Smith be here soon? I need to talk to him about the Peterson
contract.
a) Will b) Shall
8. _____ we just tell Ms. Johnson the truth? Someone is bound to tell her if we
don’t.
a) Will b) Shall
9. _____ I get you something warm to drink, like a cup of tea or a bowl of
chicken soup?
a) Will b) Shall
10. _____ we need to buy any additional software if we link our server with
other servers on the Internet?
a) Will b) Shall
1. a 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. B 6. A 7. A 8. B 9. B 10. a
