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The difference between“shall“y“Will“
“shall“y“Will“they are often interchangeable, but there are some nuances to consider when choosing which one to use.
Today, Americans tend not to use“shall“to form the future tense. In British English,“shall“is still used to form the future tense, particularly when the subject is“I“o“we“. However, most Britons now use“will“. This is a relatively new development.
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More about“Shall“and“Will“
There are two distinctions here between“shall“y“Will“that have traditionally been followed. It would be inaccurate to describe them as rules today, but you can use them to influence your decision.
(1) Use“shall“when the subject is“I“or“we.“
- I shall use my discretion. (traditionally) ✔️
(2) Use“will“when the subject is not“I“or“we.“
- He will use his discretion. (traditionally) ✔️
In the UK, these two distinctions still exist if the sentence is a question. (For clarity, these are still rules.) For example:
- Shall we discuss this matter tomorrow? ✔️
(Of interest, the Irish would use“will“here, not“shall.“) - Will they discuss this matter tomorrow? ✔️
Of interest, if you need to convey that something needs to happen (usually out of a sense of duty), then you can change“shall“by“Will“(and vice versa). For example:
- I will use my discretion. ✔️
(Traditionally, using“will“instead of“shall“provided emphasis.) - He shall use his discretion. ✔️
(Traditionally, using“shall“instead of“will“provided emphasis.)
You can still use this technique, but in truth, the intended nuance is likely to go unnoticed by most of your readers.
Even More about“Shall“and“Will“
The main use of auxiliary verbs“will“y“shall“it is to form the future tense. For example:
- I will arrive on Tuesday. ✔️
- I shall arrive on Tuesday. ✔️
Sin embargo, en estos días, el uso de“shall“to form the future tense is getting rarer (especially in the US), and it’s safe to use“will“every time. In fact, to say that it is“safe to use“will“every time“is to underestimate the case. Unless you’re asking a question, it’s largely expected (particularly in the US).
The Traditional Rules for Forming the Future Tense with“Will“and“Shall“
The traditional rules to form the future tense with“will“y“shall“are the following:
| Person | Pronoun Noun |
Future Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person Singular |
I | shall | I shall be there soon. |
| 2nd Person Singular |
You | will | You will be there soon. |
| 3rd Person Singular |
He, She, It |
will | He will be there soon. |
| 1st Person Plural |
We | shall | We shall be there soon. |
| 2nd Person Plural |
You | will | You will be there soon. |
| 3rd Person Plural |
They | will | They will be there soon. |
Sin embargo, solo para reiterar, hoy en día, está bien usar“Will“in all cases.
Conveying a Sense of Importance or Duty with“Will“and“Shall“
If something is going to happen in the future and you want to convey the idea that it definitely must happen (especially out of a sense of duty), then everything changes. In other words, it goes like this:
| Person | Pronoun Noun |
Future Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person Singular |
I | will | I will attend the meeting. |
| 2nd Person Singular |
You | shall | You shall attend the meeting. |
| 3rd Person Singular |
He, She, It |
shall | He shall attend the meeting. |
| 1st Person Plural |
We | will | We will attend the meeting. |
| 2nd Person Plural |
You | shall | You shall attend the meeting. |
| 3rd Person Plural |
They | shall | They shall attend the meeting. |
Mira estos ejemplos:
- I will guarantee your safe passage. ✔️
(If this were just the future tense (i.e., without any sense of duty attached), then, traditionally, it should read“I shall guarantee .“As it doesn’t, the use of“will“could convey a sense of duty to some of your readers. However, the overwhelming majority of your readers are likely to think that you’ve just opted for“will“over“shall“as a way of forming the future tense. In other words, they won’t give it a second thought.) - You shall ask a question on recruitment at the end of the presentation. ✔️
(If this were just the future tense (i.e., without any sense of duty attached), then it should read“You will ask….“Again, for some of your readers, the use of“shall“could convey a sense of duty, but it won’t for most.)
Today, this is just a point of academic interest. Few of your readers are likely to notice that you have changed your mind.“Will“a“shall“(or vice versa) to convey a sense of importance or duty.
“Shall“Is Still Used in Questions
From what you’ve read so far, you might have the idea that“shall“it is in its last stages as a word. You may be thinking that they are hot on the heels of“To who“to get to the graveyard of words where words like“here“y“from where“they have rested However, that is not accurate.“Shall“is alive and well when it comes to questions posed in the first person (that is, with“yo“y“us“). For example:
- Shall I talk in a Scottish accent during the meeting? ✔️
- What shall we talk about? ✔️
- Was that the dog? Shall I open the window? ✔️
“Will“and“Shall“in Contractions
When you talk or write casually, you may not have to worry about using“shall“o“will“because the contractions are likely to be the same.
| Full Versions | Contraction |
|---|---|
| I shall I will |
I’ll |
| You shall You will |
You’ll |
| He/She/It shall He/She/It will |
He’ll / She’ll / It’ll |
| We shall We will |
We’ll |
| You shall You will |
You’ll |
| They shall They will |
They’ll |
Esta superposición no ocurre con“will not“y“shall not“(the negative versions). contraction of“shall not“es“shan’t“. contraction of“will not“es“won’t“.
