"Shall" originally meant "owe" and, therefore, expressed obligation. But, as time passed, its significance was softened to express simple futurity with the first person; and a promise, a threat, a command or a resolve, with the second and the third person; as,
"Will" originally expressed a wish or an intention or a resolution on the part of the speaker. But in current English, it expresses self-determination with the first person; and simple futurity, with the second and the third person; as,
The foregoing discussion clearly shows the two forms of the future tense:
But, in fact there are three kinds of Future actions:
And there are but two Auxiliaries-- "shall" and "will" to express these three futures. It is this defect that gives rise to all difficulty and confusion in the use of "shall" and "will".
The following points may, perhaps, be helpful in using "shall" and "will" without any confusion;
She will, probably, send her application tomorrow.
Perhaps we shall call on you at 9am.
I shall be pleased to meet your friend.
He will lose his temper on reading this letter.
She will be twelve years old on the 1st of June.
Thou shalt not steal.
If I can do you any service, I will.
The sum and substance of this discussion may, now, be given as follows;
But remember that "will" cannot be used in questions with the first person. Thus it is wrong to say; will we? It should be; shall we?
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