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.
Affirmative
He will
/ He'll stay at home 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.
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Question
Will
he stay at home tomorrwo?
Will they be busy?
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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."
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