Modal Verbs – Shall
This modal verb is most commonly used when the speaker is making suggestions in the “I” and “we” form. It is also used when asking for an opinion about something and talking about the future. It’s also used as a very formal command which is not commonly used.
- Shall I open the window?
(suggestion) - Shall we dance?
(suggestion) - You shall clean your room!
(formal command) - This is a terrible situation, what shall I do?
(asking an opinion) - Shall I cook for you tonight my darling, you’ve been such a good wife.
(suggestion) - Oh no, the door’s locked and I don’t have the key, what shall we do?
(asking an opinion) - You shall do as I say or else you’ll be punished!
(command) - I shall go to the dance tonight, I’m getting rather bored staying
at home Saturday nights.
(future) - We shall study tonight, we have an important exam tomorrow.
(future)
The negative form of “shall” is “shall not“. “Shall not” is also used as a negative command form which can be used with other pronouns other than “I” and “we”.
- We shall not go to the beach today, it’s too cold.
(future) - I shall not want to talk to you because you made me very angry!
(future) - Shall we not do something about this horrible situation?
(asking an opinion) - Shall I not talk to your mother and ask for her forgiveness?
(asking an opinion) - You shall not go outside and play for two weeks, you’ve been a bad boy!
(negative command) - He shall not be allowed to ever come to my office again!
(negative command) - They shall not be allowed to leave this class until they finish their homework.
(negative command) - You shall never talk to that horrible man again!
(negative command) - She shall never go to those wild parties again, she is so young to be going
to such parties!
(negative command)
They shall never be allowed to play outside alone when it’s dark outside, it’s too dangerous for them!
(negative command)