Common Errors in the use of shall and will
“Will” and “shall” are modal verbs. They are used with the base form of the main verb.
First Person Pronoun
In British English Grammar, ‘shall’ is used with First Person Pronouns (I, We) to form the simple future tense.
Example: Subject (First Person Pronoun) + Shall + Verb + (Prep( + Object
1. I Shall go to school.
2. We shall go to school.
Second and Third Person Pronoun
With Second and Third Person Pronouns (He, She, You, they), ‘will’ is used to form the simple future.
Example:
Subject (First Person Pronoun) + Will + Verb + (Prep( + Object
1. He will go to
school.
2. She will go to
school.
3. You will play
match.
4. They will speak the
truth.
However, when it comes to expressing ideas such as determination or threat, these rules are reversed. That means ‘will’ is used with first person pronouns and ‘shall’ is used with second and third person pronouns.
Example:
Subject (First Person Pronoun) + Will + Verb + (Prep( + Object
1. We will go to Delhi tomorrow.
2. I will do it.
Subject (Second / Third Person Pronoun) + Shall + Verb + (Prep( + Object
1. He shall go to Delhi tomorrow.
2. She shall succeed in the exam.
3. You shall pay for this.
4. They shall win the match.
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Errors generally made in the use of Shall or will |
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Incorrect Sentence |
Correct Sentence |
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I am sorry, I will not be able to reach Kolkata in time. |
I am sorry, I shall not be able to reach Kolkata in time. |
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We will forgive him of his misconduct. |
We shall forgive him of his misconduct. |
|
You shall know your class result tomorrow. |
You will know your class the result tomorrow. |
|
Will the messenger wait for the reply? |
Shall the messenger wait for the reply? |
|
If you do not work hard, you will fail. |
If you do not work hard, you shall fail. |
|
I will be drowned and nobody shall save me. |
I shall be drowned and nobody shall save me. |
|
If you do not learn from your mistake, you will be dismissed from service. |
If you do not learn from your mistake, you shall be dismissed from service. |
|
Unless you speak the truth, I shall not pardon you. |
Unless you speak the truth, I will not pardon you. |
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We will see the Lal Qila during the coming holidays. |
We shall see the Lal Qila during the coming holidays. |
|
I will be thankful to your kindness. |
I shall be thankful to your kindness. |
|
“Tomorrow will be a cricket match between India and Australia,” said Ramesh to me. |
“Tomorrow shall be a cricket match between India and Australia,” said Ramesh to me. |
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Shall he appear in the school final this year? |
Will he appear in the school final this year? |
|
As soon as the Chief Minister will reach here, all of you will stand. |
As soon as the Chief Minister reaches here, all of you shall stand. |
|
Our school teacher shall be on leave tomorrow. |
Our school teacher will be on leave tomorrow. |
|
We shall certainly catch the bus. |
We will certainly catch the bus. |
|
We shall never betray you. |
We will never deceive you. |
“Will” and “shall” are modal verbs. They are used with the base form of the main verb.
First Person Pronoun
In British English Grammar, ‘shall’ is used with First Person Pronouns (I, We) to form the simple future tense.
Example: Subject (First Person Pronoun) + Shall + Verb + (Prep( + Object
1. I Shall go to school.
2. We shall go to school.
Second and Third Person Pronoun
With Second and Third Person Pronouns (He, She, You, they), ‘will’ is used to form the simple future.
Example:
Subject (First Person Pronoun) + Will + Verb + (Prep( + Object
1. He will go to
school.
2. She will go to
school.
3. You will play
match.
4. They will speak the
truth.
However, when it comes to expressing ideas such as determination or threat, these rules are reversed. That means ‘will’ is used with first person pronouns and ‘shall’ is used with second and third person pronouns.
Example:
Subject (First Person Pronoun) + Will + Verb + (Prep( + Object
1. We will go to Delhi tomorrow.
2. I will do it.
Exmaple:
Subject (Second / Third Person Pronoun) + Shall + Verb + (Prep( + Object
1. He shall go to Delhi tomorrow.
2. She shall succeed in the exam.
3. You shall pay for this.
4. They shall win the match.
|
Errors generally made in the use of Shall or will |
|
|
Incorrect Sentence |
Correct Sentence |
|
I am sorry, I will not be able to reach Kolkata in time. |
I am sorry, I shall not be able to reach Kolkata in time. |
|
We will forgive him of his misconduct. |
We shall forgive him of his misconduct. |
|
You shall know your class result tomorrow. |
You will know your class the result tomorrow. |
|
Will the messenger wait for the reply? |
Shall the messenger wait for the reply? |
|
If you do not work hard, you will fail. |
If you do not work hard, you shall fail. |
|
I will be drowned and nobody shall save me. |
I shall be drowned and nobody shall save me. |
|
If you do not learn from your mistake, you will be dismissed from service. |
If you do not learn from your mistake, you shall be dismissed from service. |
|
Unless you speak the truth, I shall not pardon you. |
Unless you speak the truth, I will not pardon you. |
|
We will see the Lal Qila during the coming holidays. |
We shall see the Lal Qila during the coming holidays. |
|
I will be thankful to your kindness. |
I shall be thankful to your kindness. |
|
“Tomorrow will be a cricket match between India and Australia,” said Ramesh to me. |
“Tomorrow shall be a cricket match between India and Australia,” said Ramesh to me. |
|
Shall he appear in the school final this year? |
Will he appear in the school final this year? |
|
As soon as the Chief Minister will reach here, all of you will stand. |
As soon as the Chief Minister reaches here, all of you shall stand. |
|
Our school teacher shall be on leave tomorrow. |
Our school teacher will be on leave tomorrow. |
|
We shall certainly catch the bus. |
We will certainly catch the bus. |
|
We shall never betray you. |
We will never deceive you. |