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Thread: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

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    Default The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Sirs! How would I use 'will and 'shall' in a sentence that could show willingness (volition)?

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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Quote Originally Posted by aachu View Post
    Sirs! How would I use 'will and 'shall' in a sentence that could show willingness (volition)?
    Use 'will'. Always.
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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Sir, could you give one such example that could show the proper use of 'will' in the sense of willingness?

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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Quote Originally Posted by fivejedjon View Post
    Use 'will'. Always.
    In academic writing, we still use "shall" with the first person, both in the singular and plural. It is less common to use will in such cases, in literature and the humanities.
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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Quote Originally Posted by konungursvia View Post
    In academic writing, we still use "shall" with the first person, both in the singular and plural. It is less common to use will in such cases, in literature and the humanities.
    For volition?

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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Quote Originally Posted by konungursvia View Post
    In academic writing, we still use "shall" with the first person, both in the singular and plural. It is less common to use will in such cases, in literature and the humanities.
    Sir I have learnt from a decrepit English Grammar book that 'will' is used with first person while 'shall' is used with second and third person, in case of volition that is, but I couldn't figure out their usage in the sense of willingness. A sentence would help me understand it.
    Last edited by aachu; 19-Jul-2011 at 22:28.

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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Not a teacher

    Quote Originally Posted by aachu View Post
    Sir I have learnt from a decrepit English Grammar book that 'will' is used with first person while 'shall' is used with second and third person, but I couldn't figure out their usage in the sense of willingness. A sentence would help me understand it.
    I can't think how you would express volition in the 2nd or 3rd persons. In these cases, the use of shall would mean determination (on the part of the speaker) or promise.

    I will sneak out to the cinema in spite of being grounded. (volition)

    You shall have the bike for Christmas. (promise)

    The prisoners shall be executed tomorrow. (determination, but it's the speaker's determination, not the poor chaps'.)

    NB: This is what we were taught in the 60's in ESL class. Nowadays, will has become standard use for simple futurity even for the first person. And many native speakers are unsure about the use of shall with the second and third persons.
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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Quote Originally Posted by Hedwig View Post
    Not a teacher

    I will sneak out to the cinema in spite of being grounded. (volition)
    My word! I didn't know what kind of sentence would it be. I have been using these kind of sentences from the age of 10.

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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Quote Originally Posted by aachu View Post
    My word! I didn't know what kind of sentence would it be. I have been using these kind of sentences from the age of 10.
    You, naughty boy!
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    Default Re: The use of 'will' and 'shall' , showing willingness

    Quote Originally Posted by fivejedjon View Post
    For volition?
    No, I think it's just a carry-on of the old Oxbridge rules:

    Normal

    1 shall
    2 will
    3 will

    Emphatic

    1 will
    2 shall
    3 shall
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