shall
English meaning: Shall
Definition
(modal, auxiliary verb, defective) Used before a verb to indicate the simple future tense in the first person singular or plural.
Example
“I hope that we shall win the game.”
Another example: “The tenant shall pay the rent on the first day of each month.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A modal auxiliary verb. In traditional British usage it marks the simple future in the first person ('I shall go') and strong determination or obligation in the second/third ('you shall obey'). Now formal or legal; everyday English usually prefers 'will'. Common in 'shall I/we...?' for offers and suggestions.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English 'sceal' (owe, ought to, must), a Germanic preterite-present verb; the future sense developed over the Middle English period.
Synonyms
- will
- must
- ought to
Antonyms / Opposites
- shall not
- won't
Related Words
Common Collocations
- shall we
- you shall not
- shall be deemed
- shall remain
- what shall
- we shall see
Word Forms
shall (modal); should (past/conditional)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B