We've already seen that in
American English, shall is often
used in asking what someone
wants you (or another person
person) to do and
in asking someone whether something is
idea (that is, whether it is advisable).
Another use for shall is in
expressing determination or
a promise. This use of shall
is quite formal and
overcome our problems.
(We're determined to overcome
our problems, and we'll
do everything that we
can to overcome them.
We intend to overcome our
problems, no matter how
difficult this may be.)
have everything that
(I'm / we're determined to
give you everything that you
require, and I /
we don't care how difficult it may be to
I / we promise that you will
have everything that you require,
this may be very difficult to accomplish.
He shall be the
(We're / I'm determined to
make him the next president
and we'll / I'll do
everything that I / we can to ensure that
I / we promise that he will
be the next president, no matter
this may be.
In the examples above, shall is
used in a very
special way: to show strong determination
a promise for something that is difficult to
or for situations in which the results are
to be difficult to accomplish.
In American English, "I
will do something" and
"I shall do
something" have very different feelings.
will" indicates that something is acceptable to
and I'm willing to do it. "I shall" indicates that
I'm strongly determined to do something that
others consider difficult to accomplish.
The negative of shall
not, which is
contracted to shan't.
determination or a promise for something
shall not (shan't) be disappointed.
(I'm determined you will not
no matter what happens. / I promise
won't be disappointed, even though this
difficult to arrange.
shall not (shan't) be allowed to enter
(I'm determined that he will not be allowed
to enter the
building under any circumstances. /
that he will not be allowed to enter
no matter how difficult this is
In American English, shall and shall
are very formal and show very
They are not simply forms that
"I" and "we" use
to show future