Shall vs Will
Published January 25, 2023. Updated January 25, 2023.
Shall and will are often confused due to both being used as auxiliary verbs to show the simple future tense, but there are a few differences between the two, especially in North American varieties of English. Shall is always used as a verb, whereas will can be a verb or a noun with more meanings than shall.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Shall (verb)
- With first-person pronouns, utilized in front of a verb to show simple future tense for statements and to suggest something in questions.
Examples:
We shall be back at 5:00.
Shall I bring the truck to help you move next Tuesday?
- With second and third-person pronouns, shows either obligation or determination.
Examples:
Residents shall be required to ration water during the drought.
“You shall not pass!” said the wizard.
Notes: In North American English, shall sounds either formal or a bit archaic depending on the context. It is less likely to be used for simple future tense in Canada or the US compared to other English-speaking countries.
Will (verb)
- Shows the future tense of another verb when placed in front of it.
Examples:
I will eat a big lunch today, so I will be skipping dinner.
She will go to the concert in November.
- Shows a requirement or as a command.
Examples:
You will go to school tomorrow without arguing or no more cell phone for you.
He will finish the report by the end of the day if he wants to keep his job.
- Shows something that is done often or out of habit.
Examples:
Dogs will eat almost anything you put in front of them.
People will surprise you.
Notes: There are many other uses for will that relate to probability, determination, consent, refusal, etc. These are just some of the most common uses. Will can be used in an archaic way to indicate want as its equivalents are still used in other Germanic languages like German ‘wollen’, Swedish ‘att vilja’, etc.
Will (noun)
- Someone’s wish or desire usually used in a passionate way.
Examples:
Election results show the will of the people.
It is my will that you finish your college education.
- A legal document that shows what a person will leave behind to their relatives, friends, community, etc. upon their death.
Examples:
The funeral turned ugly when the family bickered over her will.
It’s important to write a will even if you’re in good health.
Notes: There are many other uses for will, but most relate to meaning 1 in some way as an expression of desire, sometimes in a more formal or sophisticated way.
Main Points
- Both words are used as auxiliary verbs to show a future action.
- Shall has more of an archaic or formal sound to it for most North American English speakers and can only be used as a verb.
- Will is more often used for the future tense, has more meanings, and can be used as either a verb or a noun.