Introduction
Shall is a modal verb used in question form to ask for instructions or for formulating requests in a polite way.
Form
We form questions using shall by using this structure:
Shall + subject* + verb + …?
*It is used only in the first person singular and plural.
Example
- My guests are vegetarians, what shall I cook?
- She’s allergic to onion so what shall I do if she accidentally eats some?
- What shall we do if the baby doesn’t drink the milk?
- Shall I ask for the bill now?
- Shall I book a table?
- Shall we go to an Italian restaurant?
- Shall I bring you something to drink?
- Shall I call the school?
- Shall we do it for you?
Use
We use shall in the first person singular and plural to ask questions or make requests in a more polite way. We can also use it to:
- ask for instructions;
- make suggestions;
- offer services.
Summary
The modal verb shall is used to ask for instructions, suggestions and services. When we use it, we start with shall followed by the subject and a verb (the sentence ends with a question mark).
For example:
— “Shall we help them?” = Shall is considered to be more formal and it is not commonly used.
♦ “Will we help them?” = Will is less formal and it is more commonly used.
NOTE: Will and shall have the same meaning, but shall is used only in the first person singular and plural.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.