Modal verbs Will, Shall: difference between them, usage, meanings and examples. The modal verb Should in English

Unlike most modal verbs, shall and will combine not only the shade of modality, but also the function of auxiliary ones, which indicate the future tense.

In the process of the development of the language, the original meanings of the verbs were supplemented with a shade of the future tense. So, once upon a time shall was used to mean "must", and will- "to want". An echo of this persists today. So, there is an abstract noun will - "will, desire." Much later, these verbs began to be used as markers of the future tense. As an auxiliary, shall was used with the first person, and will - with all the others, although today it is put in all faces.

It is important to know:

Abbreviated formshan’ttypical of British English. In American usewon’tin all faces. Given that American English is more prevalent due to the influence of the media, this form is not recommended to avoid mixing up the two competing options.

The modal verb shall: use and meaning

The language is constantly transforming and developing. As a result, the modal verb shall is almost never used in lively colloquial speech. An exception is a situation when the speaker comes up with some kind of proposal. For example:

• Shall we help you? - Let us help you.
• It's too smoky, shall we go outside? - It's very smoky here, maybe it's better to get out?

Interestingly, in the old texts, shall occurs in the meaning of a warning, threat or promise. The most striking example is Gandalf's phrase from the Lord of the Rings trilogy:

• You shall not pass! - You will not pass!

Compared to the translation, the meaning of the phrase in the original is much richer precisely because of the modality of the verb. Note that it is used here with a second person. In this sense, shall is found in lyrics and literary works:

• You shall never be afraid again! “No one will scare you anymore.
• It is too dangerous. They shall loose there. “It's too dangerous. They will fail there.

The form shall indicates a strong likelihood and a strong commitment. Determining whether this is really modal knowledge, or just an indication of the future tense is easy. If shall is not with the first person, then you need to translate the phrase only from the position of modality. Otherwise, it is determined by context. For example:

• I shall go and see what can be done - I'll go see what can be done.
• You shall apologize for your behavior - You must apologize for your behavior.

In the first case, it is a simple use of shall as a marker of Future Simple, and in the second, it is a rigid follow-up, which stands out in speech intonationally.

Unlike Russian, the word "must" in English has more than one equivalent. In this meaning, the verbs must, have to, to be to, should, shall can be used. They differ in shades of meaning. For example, to be to is used to carry out a planned action or when executing an order, should o ought to - as a mild form, which translates as "should" and has the meaning of advice.

Will as modal: usage features

As mentioned above, will initially had a clear modal meaning that gradually merged with the future tense marker function. They do not contradict each other, since the main meaning for will is intention. An example will help to visually understand why the modality was so easily combined with the future tense function:

• Don’t worry, I will be back as soon as I can - Don't worry, I'll be back as soon as I can.
• I will do it whatever you say. “I’ll do it, no matter what you say.”

Thus, in both cases, the speaker's intention to perform some action is traced.

Another meaning is a direct indication and an insistent imperative, that is, a command to do something. In this case, in addition to the emphasized use of the full form, intonational highlighting of the modal verb is used for an emphatic effect.

• They will help us even if to explain everything again. “They'll have to help us, even if I have to explain everything again.
• You will go home and apologize - You will have to go home and apologize.

In addition, will can be used in formal orders when the ordering is higher in status than the interlocutor. Often used by teachers in relation to students, for example:

• Will you two go out! “You two out of the audience!

Finally, will is used to describe a repetitive action that the speaker disapproves of. The use of the verb in this case also stands out intonationally to enhance the meaningful part of the sentence. For example:

• I am not surprised that you are bitten. You will pat all the dogs you see. “I'm not surprised you got bitten. You constantly climb to all the dogs in the area.

Determining whether to translate will modal or not is almost impossible without context. Offer "I will go and see what happened" translated in two ways:

"I'll go see what happened" and "I want to go see what happened".

Lesson 3. Future Simple Tense - Future Simple Tense. Ways of expressing future tense (repetition) and their comparison with Future Simple. Suggestions and requests

In this lesson, we will take a closer look at the Future Simple Time, and also compare it with other, previously considered, ways of expressing the future tense. We will consider some cases of the use of Future Simple Time in colloquial speech.

Topic 1. Use of The Future Simple Tense. Difference between Shall and Will. Formation of affirmative and negative sentences. Short forms

For education all types of offers in Future Simple Tense, auxiliary verbs are used shall or will... Formally shall used with the first person singular (I) and plural (we). But in modern colloquial speech, almost only will... However, this trend does not mean at all that shall became an atavism, since it is indispensable in some interrogative sentences (to be discussed in topic 2) and has a very noticeable semantic potential, different from will... In literature, in newspapers shall and will are used according to grammar.

The main purpose of Future Simple Time is to designate an action that will take place in the future.

In the future tense, temporary indicators such as tomorrow, in two days, next week, etc. are used.

Affirmative sentences

Word order: on first the place is the subject; on second- auxiliary; on third place is a verb in the form of an infinitive without a particle to... An adverb may follow the auxiliary verb.

Abbreviations are often used in affirmative sentences. It is noteworthy that when using abbreviations, the need to choose between auxiliary verbs disappears, since only the same ending is taken from them -ll.

I "ll - He" ll - She "ll - We" ll - You "ll - They" ll - It "ll.

With help Future simple future intentions that arise at the time of making a decision are expressed.

The phone is ringing. - I "ll answer it.
Phone calls. - I will answer.

Will- it is also a noun that translates as "will, desire". This semantic load was fully transferred to the auxiliary verb of the same name. Therefore, there is determination in the sentence "I will help you".

Have shall there is no such "determination". Shall usually expresses actions in which the subject's desires are absent.

I shall be 30 next month.

The example of the following sentence clearly shows the semantic and stylistic difference between shall and will:

We will fight and we shall win.

Will here expresses the intention of the speaker, shall speaks of the inevitability of victory, "promises it."

Negative sentences

Negative sentences are formed by simply adding the negative particle not after the auxiliary verb. Very often abbreviations are used in negative sentences. Sometimes it is quite difficult to "decipher" these abbreviations if you have not seen them before.

So:
Won "t - will not
Shan`t [∫a: n t] - shall not

Note

English modal verbs shall and will are used only in two forms: in the present tense - shall, will and in the past tense - should,would.

The infinitive after these verbs is used without the to particle:

I shall be busy on Monday. I'll be busy on Monday.
He will come soon. He will come soon.
I said that I should be busy on Monday. I said I would be busy on Monday.
He said that he would come soon. He said he would come soon.

In colloquial speech, the following abbreviations are used:
I will = I "ll
I would = I "d
he will = he "ll
he would = he "d
she will = she "ll
she would = she "d
we will = we "ll
we would = we "d
you will = you "ll
you would = you "d
they will = they "ll
they would = they "d
shall not = shan "t
will not = won "t
would not = wouldn "t
should not = shouldn "t

Verb shall used as an auxiliary verb in combination with the infinitive to form future tense forms with the 1st person singular and plural:

I shall be free tonight. I'll be free tonight.
Shall I see you tomorrow? I will see you tomorrow?
We shall not have an English lesson tomorrow. We won't have an English lesson tomorrow.

In modern English, instead of shall with the first person is usually used will: I will be free tonight. We will not have an English lesson tomorrow.

Shall used in an interrogative sentence when contacting the interlocutor for an order, indication. Shall in this case it has a modal meaning, giving the action a shade of obligation. In the corresponding Russian sentence, the verb is used in the infinitive form:

Shall I close the window? Close a window?
Where shall we wait for you? Where can we wait for you?
Shall he wait for you at the hotel? Should he wait for you at the hotel?

Shall used with 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural in positive and negative sentences. In this case shall has a modal meaning, giving the action in the future tense a shade of promise, command, threat, warning from the speaker. In Russian, modal meaning shall conveyed by the appropriate intonation:

Tell her that she shall have the books tomorrow. Tell her she will receive the books tomorrow (promise).
You shall write your exercises at once. You will write the exercises immediately (command).

Shall used with the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural in agreements, contracts and other documents. In this case shall has a modal meaning, giving the action in the future tense a shade of obligation. In the corresponding Russian sentence, the future tense is used or, more often, "should" with an infinitive:

The Buyers shall have the right to inspect the goods during their manufacture. Buyers should have the right (will have the right) to inspect the product during its manufacture.

Should(the past tense of shall) is used as an auxiliary verb:

1.with 1-person singular and plural for the formation of Future in the Past indicative mood:
I said that I should be glad to see him. I said I would be glad to see him.

2.with the 1st person singular and plural for the formation of the subjunctive mood forms used in the main part of conditional sentences of the second and third types:
I should go there if I had time. I would go there if I had time.

Currently, instead of should with 1 person is usually used would(both in the Future in the Past forms and in the subjunctive mood forms).

3.with all singular and plural persons to form the subjunctive mood forms used in the following types of sentences:

a) in clauses subjects starting with the conjunction that after turns like it is desirable - desirable, it is necessary - necessary, it is important - important, it is strange - strange, etc. (combined with Simple and Perfect Infinitive):
It is strange that he should have said it. It's strange that he said that.

b) in additional subordinate clauses, when the predicate verb of the main clause expresses determination, demand, proposal, agreement, order (in combination with Simple Infinitive):
He ordered that the work should be done at once. He ordered that the job be done immediately.

c) in additional subordinate clauses, when the verb of the main sentence expresses a feeling of regret, surprise, indignation, joy, etc. (combined with Simple and Perfect Infinitive):
It is a pity that it should be so. It is a pity that this is so.

d) in the relative clauses of the goal (in combination with Simple Infinitive):
I "ll ring him up at once so that he shouldn" t wait for me. I will call him immediately so that he does not wait for me.

e) in the conditional clauses (in combination with Simple Infinitive):
If they should come, I shall speak to them about it. If they come, I will talk to them about it.

f) in direct and indirect questions starting with why, to express strong surprise, bewilderment (in combination with Simple and Perfect Infinitive):
Why should you have behaved so? Why did you behave like that?

Should used as a verb with an independent modal meaning to express moral duty or advice with all singular and plural persons. Should in combination with Simple Infinitive used when it comes about the present or the future and translated into Russian "should, should, should, should":

Shouldn't help them. He should (should, he should, should) help them.

Should combined with Perfect infinitive is used in relation to the past, expresses a censure or reproach and is translated into Russian "should, should, should, should":

Shouldn't have helped them. He should (should, he should, should) help them.

Should in combination with Infinitive passive translated into Russian “should, should, should, should” with the infinitive of the passive voice or “should, should, should” with the infinitive of the active voice:

This letter should be sent off at once. This letter should (should) be sent immediately. This letter should (should) be sent immediately.

In Russian, "should, should" can be used both in relation to the present or the future, and in relation to the past. When "should, should" are used in relation to the present or the future, they correspond to the combination should with the infinitive in the form of Simple. When "should, should" are used in relation to the past, they correspond to the combination should with the infinitive in the form of Perfect:

You should (you should) do it now (tomorrow). You should do it now (tomorrow).
You should (you should) have done it yesterday. You should have done it yesterday.

Should it is also used with a modal meaning in indirect speech, depending on the verb in the past tense, when in the corresponding direct speech should be used with a modal meaning. Should in this case, it is used according to the rule of timing:

I asked him where I should wait for him. I asked him where to wait for him.

Verb will used as an auxiliary verb in combination with the infinitive to form future tense forms with the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural:

Will not come to Moscow soon. He will come to Moscow soon.

Will used with the 1st person singular and plural with a modal meaning, giving the action in the future tense a touch of desire, intention, consent or promise:

I will call on you tomorrow. I'll come to you tomorrow.
We will help him. We will help him.

Would(past tense of will) is used as an auxiliary verb:

1.with 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural to form Future in the Past indicative mood:
Didn't say that he would come soon. He said he would come soon.

2.with the 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural for the formation of the subjunctive mood forms used in the main part of conditional sentences of the second and third types:
Wouldn't go there if he had time. He would go there if he had time.

Would often used with 1 person instead of should.

Would used with a modal meaning with all singular and plural persons in negative sentences to express a stubborn unwillingness to perform an action in the past, and in this case it is translated into Russian "did not want (a)":

Didn't try to persuade me, but I wouldn "t listen to him. He tried to convince me, but I didn't want to listen to him. I asked him several times to give up smoking, but he wouldn "t. Several times I asked him to quit smoking, but he did not want to.

Would used to express a request:

Would you mind passing me the salt? Please give me the salt.

Would used with all singular and plural persons to express a repeated action in the past with the meaning "happened":

Wouldn't sit for hours on the shore and (would) look at the sea. He used to sit for hours on the shore and look at the sea.
The verb would in this case approaches in meaning to used (to)... It should be borne in mind that in colloquial speech used (to) is used much more often than would.

Would used in indirect speech, depending on the verb in the past tense, with the 1st person singular and plural with a touch of intention, desire or consent, when will should be used in the corresponding direct speech. Would

The modal verb shall has two forms - present tense (directly shall) and past tense ( should). Despite the fact that these are two forms of the same verb, each of them has its own peculiarities of use, its own suitable situations, so we will consider shall and should separately. Let's start with the modal verb shall.

SHALL modal verb

Before talking about the modality of this verb, it should be noted that this verb, as such, can also be auxiliary. In this form, in a company with an infinitive, it is necessary for the formation of the future tense in English language... For example:

Wait a moment! I shall call my boss. - Wait a minute! I'll call the boss.

As a modal verb, shall has several uses, which, as usual, we will consider in the form of a list. So, the modal verb shall is necessary for us in order to express:

1) Order, indication, clarification of instructions... In this variant, the modal verb shall is used in interrogative sentences with the first person.
Shall I shut the door? - Should I close the door?
When shall we wait for you? - When can we expect you?

2) Promise, command, threat, a warning from the speaker. Affirmative and negative sentences come into play with the second and third person, both singular and plural.
Warn her that she shall pass the exam tomorrow. - Warn her that she will take the exam tomorrow.
They shall regret if they say this. “They'll be sorry if they say it.

3) Appointment in agreements, contracts and other documents... The translation will accordingly contain the word "must".
Within five days from the delivery date the seller shall send two sets of technical documents to the address of the buyer. - Within five days from the date of delivery, the seller must send two sets of technical documents to the buyer's address.

4) Confidence... And the phrase smb shall do smth can be interpreted as "someone will do it for sure."
You shall get your money back. - You should definitely get your money back.

SHOULD modal verb

This form of the modal verb shall can also have not only modality, but also act as auxiliary verb in sentences containing the Future-in-the-Past or the subjunctive mood. As an example, consider the following sentences:

We assured her that we should soon come back. “We convinced her that we would be back soon.
It is important that I should say “yes”. - It is important that I say yes.
She demanded that I should apologize to her. “She demanded that I apologize.

But on this moment we are interested in the modal meanings of the verb should. We have two of them, plus more nuances and important points so back to our handy checklist for the modal should.

With this verb, we usually express:
1) Duty, Duty (Weakened to Advice or Rebuke)... This modal verb is not as strict as must (which you can read about in the article "MUST modal verb").
A gentleman should be honest in his action. - A gentleman should be honest in his actions (deeds).
If you want to succeed, you should have knowledge, experience and patience. - To be successful, you need to have knowledge, experience and patience.

2) Surprise, misunderstanding, indignation in interrogative sentences(emotional speech) after why / how.
How should I know? - How do I know?
Why should she lie? “Why lie to her?

You may have a natural question - at what time will it be necessary to translate this or that sentence? How to determine temporal attribution? But the infinitive form, which is used with the modal verb should, is responsible for this. It depends on him what time period the situation belongs to.

You should be working now instead of relaxing. - You should work now, not rest. (moment of speech)

You should consult a prosessional before taking any decision. - You should consult with a specialist before making any decision. (present or future tense)

You shouldn’t eat so many sweets! - You shouldn't eat so many sweets!

You should have thought about it before! “You should have thought about this earlier! (The use of the modal verb should in combination with the perfect infinitive refers to the past tense and implies that the action was desired, but it was not performed. In such sentences, there is a censure or reproach)

He should have accepted the invitation, why did he refuse it? “He should have accepted this invitation. Why did he refuse?

You should have insisted on his being present at the rehearsal! “You should have insisted that he come to the rehearsal!

You shouldn’t have followed her example all these years! “You shouldn't have followed her example for so many years! (and here negative form of the same construction means that the action did take place, but it was not desired)

Despite the fact that the modal verbs shall and should have several meanings, they are not at all difficult to understand and remember. Therefore, you should not have any difficulties with these modal verbs in English.