shall

The word “shall” means used before a verb, traditionally with "I" or "we", to express simple future tense. In plain terms, a more formal or old-fashioned way of expressing the future or a firm intention, mostly used with "I" and "we".

“Shall” is pronounced shal (/ʃæl/ in IPA).

Here is “shall” used in a sentence: “I shall return by evening.”

“Shall” is a verb.

The word “shall” comes from Old English. From Old English sceal, related to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to owe" or "to be obliged".

“Shall” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Shall” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used before a verb, traditionally with "I" or "we", to express simple future tense.

Traditionally, 'shall' was used with 'I' and 'we' for the simple future, while 'will' was used with 'you', 'he', 'she', and 'they'. To show determination, the pattern reversed. In modern English, 'will' has largely taken over, and 'shall' now sounds formal or is kept for offers and legal texts.

'Shall' is far less common than it once was, especially in American English, where 'will' or 'going to' usually replace it. It survives in formal or legal writing, where 'shall' expresses obligation, and in polite questions like 'Shall we begin?'. In everyday British speech it now sounds slightly formal.

Use 'shall' for polite offers and suggestions, as in 'Shall I open the window?' or 'Shall we go?'. It also appears in formal rules and contracts to state a requirement. For ordinary statements about the future, 'will' is now the natural, more common choice in both speech and writing.

'Shall' points to the future or expresses a requirement, as in 'We shall arrive at noon'. 'Should' expresses advice, expectation, or obligation, as in 'You should rest'. Though they are historically related, they are not interchangeable: one is mainly about what will happen, the other about what is advisable.