shallmodal verb
ukstrong /ʃæl/weak /ʃəl/usstrong /ʃæl/weak /ʃəl/shall modal verb (FUTURE)
B1 old-fashioned used instead of "will" when the subject is "I" or "we":
If you do that one more time, I shall be very angry.
I shall never forget you.
I'm afraid I shall not/shan't be able to come to your party.
formal I shall look forward to meeting you next week.
So we'll see you at the weekend, shall we (= is that right)?
We shall (= intend to) let you know as soon as there's any news.
More examples
- Unless the money is returned, we shall shortly be contacting our legal department.
- I can't afford a lawyer so I shall defend myself.
- I did meet him once and it was an experience I shall never forget.
- I shall list my objections to the plan in ascending order of importance.
- When we receive your instructions we shall act accordingly.
shall modal verb (SUGGEST)
A2 formal in US used, with "I" or "we", to make a suggestion:
"I'm cold." "Shall I close this window?"
Shall we go out for dinner tonight?
Shall I call him tomorrow?
More examples
- Are you comfortable or shall I turn the heat down?
- "So we'll meet at 5.30, shall we?" "Agreed ."
- I'll leave you to get on then, shall I?
- Since it's such a nice day, shall we eat outside?
- What about Lola - shall we invite her?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: question words & expressions
- devil
- extent
- how about...? idiom
- how, what, why, etc. on earth... idiom
- in God's/heaven's name idiom
- interrogative
- what the blazes...? idiom
- what's that (all) about (then)? idiom
- what's the score? idiom
- what/where/how/why the devil idiom
- whatever
- when
- whenever
- where
- which
- whither
- whose
- why
- world
- would you like...? idiom
See more results »
shall modal verb (CERTAINLY WILL)
formal or old-fashioned used to say that something certainly will or must happen, or that you are determined that something will happen:
Don't worry, I shall be there to meet the train.
The school rules state that no child shall be allowed out of the school during the day, unless accompanied by an adult.
You shall go to the ball, Cinderella.
More examples
- Don't worry - I shall make sure he comes!
- I shall make sure she knows.
- Very well then, I shall do it myself!
- If he won't do it, I shall do it and then there'll be trouble!
- I shall speak to her later.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Certainty
- (as) clear as day idiom
- (as) sure as eggs is eggs idiom
- and that's flat! idiom
- assured
- assuredly
- bet
- consider it done idiom
- cut and dried
- decided
- decidedly
- definite
- dispute
- doubt
- mistake
- natch
- pronounced
- proof positive
- seal
- set/put the seal on sth idiom
- shadow
See more results »