Shall or Will?

[rhapsody_08]

Originally Posted by normsinan

Dear Sir.
Now i not clear when we use will and when we use shall?

Hi!....

The traditional rule of usage guides dates from the 17th century and says that to denote future time shall is used in the first person (I shall leave. We shall go) and will in all other persons (You will be there, won't you? He will drive us to the airport. They will not be at the meeting). The rule continues that to express determination, will is used in the first person (We will win the battle) and shall in the other two persons (You shall not bully us. They shall not pass). Whether this rule was ever widely observed is doubtful. Today, will is used overwhelmingly in all three persons and in all types of speech and writing both for the simple future and to express determination. Shall has some use in all persons, chiefly in formal writing or speaking, to express determination: I shall return. We shall overcome. Shall also occurs in the language of laws and directives: All visitors shall observe posted regulations. Most educated native users of American English do not follow the textbook rule in making a choice between shall and will.......

[Kenneth_Wai]

Hi, Teacher.
I'm Wai from HK.

May I ask is that "Shall" is always better "will"?
More Polite when in "1st personal view"?
How about "May I"?

I usually use "May I" > "Shall I" and "Would you" > "Will you?"
Am I right?

Thanks.

[sievebrain]

The use of "will" or "shall" is often dependant on the phraseology.
"I'll help you with that" would be the most comon usage in this context.
Or "Let me help you with that". "Shall I help you with that" would be somewhat "out of the blue" i.e an unexpected offer of help.
So the use of "shall" or "will" in this case is dependant on the context of the situation.
Sievebrain

[konungursvia]

Originally Posted by rhapsody_08

Hi!....

The traditional rule of usage guides dates from the 17th century and says that to denote future time shall is used in the first person (I shall leave. We shall go) and will in all other persons (You will be there, won't you? He will drive us to the airport. They will not be at the meeting). The rule continues that to express determination, will is used in the first person (We will win the battle) and shall in the other two persons (You shall not bully us. They shall not pass). Whether this rule was ever widely observed is doubtful. Today, will is used overwhelmingly in all three persons and in all types of speech and writing both for the simple future and to express determination. Shall has some use in all persons, chiefly in formal writing or speaking, to express determination: I shall return. We shall overcome. Shall also occurs in the language of laws and directives: All visitors shall observe posted regulations. Most educated native users of American English do not follow the textbook rule in making a choice between shall and will.......

This is correct. I use shall for the first person in my academic writings.

[Majeste]

I think that it changes about the person whom we speak.

[5jj]

This thread still attracts genuine responses from people. To save yourself time, note that sound answers have been give in posts 2-5, 29, 34, 36, 41, and 51

[sciencestp]

I think "shall" is used in a formal context. I am not an English native, but I was studying this language many time and I learned that "shall" is more polite.
All the best! :)

[wq925110]

select shall,

[juveq8]

As I guessed ''shall'' more common than others .

[uanihat]

I thinj all of them can be