“shall” vs. “will”
Use "will" as the standard, modern choice for future tense in virtually all contexts; reserve "shall" for formal/legal obligation, or polite first-person suggestions and questions ("shall we?").
shall
"Shall" is a modal verb historically used to express future tense, particularly with "I" and "we" in formal or traditional British English ("I shall attend the meeting"), and it's also used to express obligation, especially in legal and formal documents ("the tenant shall pay rent by the first of the month"). It comes from Old English "sceal," originally meaning "to owe" or "to be obliged," a sense still preserved in its legal and formal use today.
will
"Will" is the far more common modal verb used to express future tense in modern English across nearly all subjects and contexts ("I will call you tomorrow," "she will arrive at noon"), and it can also express willingness, intention, or determination ("I will not give up"). It comes from Old English "willan," meaning "to want or wish," and has become the standard, default way to express future tense in virtually all modern English dialects.
The real distinction
The traditional rule taught in older grammar books held that "shall" should be used with first-person subjects ("I shall," "we shall") to express simple future tense, while "will" should be used with second- and third-person subjects ("you will," "they will") for the same purpose — and reversing the pattern (using "will" with "I" or "shall" with "you") was traditionally said to convey strong determination or command instead of simple prediction. In practice, this elaborate rule has almost entirely disappeared from everyday American and increasingly British English, where "will" has become the default choice for future tense regardless of subject, and "shall" now survives mainly in a few specialized contexts: formal or legalistic writing ("the parties shall comply with all terms"), polite suggestions and questions ("shall we begin?", "shall I open a window?"), and certain fixed, formal, or ceremonial expressions. Modern usage guides largely treat the old person-based "shall/will" distinction as an outdated, largely irrelevant rule that most contemporary writers can safely ignore, since "will" is now universally understood and accepted for expressing future tense in virtually every context, while "shall" is reserved for its narrower, more formal or legal function of expressing obligation or for polite first-person questions and suggestions.
Examples with “shall”
- The tenant shall pay rent by the fifth of each month.
- Shall we begin the meeting now that everyone has arrived?
- All parties shall comply with the terms outlined in the contract.
- Shall I fetch you a glass of water?
- The committee shall meet quarterly to review progress.
- Shall we take a short break before continuing?
- The contractor shall complete the work within ninety days.
- Shall I call a taxi for you?
- Employees shall report any safety concerns immediately.
- Shall we dance, my dear?
- The lease states that tenants shall provide thirty days' notice.
- The agreement states that both parties shall review the terms annually.
Examples with “will”
- She will arrive at the airport around six o'clock.
- I will call you as soon as I land.
- They will finish the project by the end of the month.
- He will not back down from the challenge.
- We will need extra chairs for the party.
- The store will open earlier during the holidays.
- She will always remember her first day at the new job.
- They will announce the winner tomorrow morning.
- I will do everything I can to help.
- The weather will likely improve by the weekend.
- She will finish the marathon no matter how long it takes.
- He will meet the new hires on their first day.
Memory trick
Think of "shall" as belonging to formal contracts and polite offers — imagine a lawyer or a butler using it ("the parties shall," "shall I take your coat?"). "Will" is the everyday, all-purpose word for future tense that everyone uses constantly, with none of the old-fashioned formality attached. A final test: if the sentence sounds like it belongs in a legal contract or a very formal invitation, "shall" may fit; for virtually everything else, modern English defaults to "will."