Will and Shall 2
Will for predictions, certainty, and shall in offers and suggestions
Will for Predictions
Use will or won’t when you predict something about the future — when you say what you know or believe will happen, not what someone has already arranged or decided.
- Kate has her driving test next week. I’m sure she will pass. She’s a good driver.
- They’ve been away a long time. When they return, they‘ll find a lot of changes.
- “Where will you be this time next year?” — “I‘ll be in Japan.”
- That plate is hot. If you touch it, you‘ll burn yourself.
- Anna looks completely different now. You won’t recognise her.
Compare these two sentences:
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I think James is going to the party on Friday. | He has already decided to go. |
| I think James will go to the party on Friday. | I predict he will decide to go. |
The first one reports a plan already made. The second one is your prediction about what he will decide.
Will with Probably, I’m Sure, I Think, I Wonder
Will (‘ll) often appears with words that signal a prediction or degree of certainty:
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| probably | I‘ll probably be home late tonight. |
| I’m sure | Don’t worry about the exam. I’m sure you‘ll pass. |
| I think | Do you think Sarah will like the present we bought her? |
| I don’t think | I don’t think the exam will be very difficult. |
| I wonder | I wonder what will happen. |
Notice the pattern with I don’t think: you put the negative on think, not on will.
- I don’t think it will rain. (not
I think it won’t rain)
I Hope + Present Tense (Not Will)
After I hope, use the present tense — not will:
- I hope Kate passes the driving test. (not
I hope Kate will pass) - I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.
Will for the Present Moment
Sometimes will does not refer to the future at all. It describes what you believe is true right now:
- Don’t phone Amy now. She‘ll be busy. (= she is busy now, I’m sure of it)
Shall with I and We
Shall is used only with I and we. You can say:
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| I shall or I will (I’ll) | I shall be late this evening. (or I will be) |
| we shall or we will (we’ll) | We shall probably go to France in June. (or We will probably go) |
In spoken English, I’ll and we’ll are the normal forms. The full forms I shall and we shall are less common.
The negative of shall is shall not or shan’t:
- I shan’t be here tomorrow. (or I won’t be)
Do not use shall with he/she/it/you/they:
- She will be very angry. (not
She shall be)
Quick Self-Check
Can you wait for me? I _____ be long.
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I don't think the quarterly report _____ very difficult to write.
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I hope the new hire _____ the training on time.
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Don't call the Tokyo office right now. It's midnight there — nobody _____ in.
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Lisa isn't free on Saturday. She _____ on the Henderson project all day.
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