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This podcast is designed to give English students extra practice by discussing events, history, culture and language.
Kari: Hi, Robert. Thanks for joining me today. I thought that maybe today we could talk to our listeners about the modal verbs WILL and SHALL. I think they’re quite confusing.
Robert: Yeah, that’s a great idea!
Kari: Okay. All right. So, let’s do a little talking about, I don’t know, about me coming to the UK to visit you. We can use will and shall a lot in a conversation like that.
Robert: All right! Let’s do it!
Kari: Okay …. You know, Robert, I’ve always wanted to visit the UK, but I’ve never gone. I think I will come this autumn. Is this a good time to visit?
Robert: Yeah, I’d say. September is often a really good time to visit the UK. The students go back to school. There aren’t too many tourists around, and the weather will often be warm and sunny. But, you know the UK, so it won’t be sunny every day. It will rain on some days. (laugh)
Kari: I’d love to come and visit you, but what shall we do? Will you be free for a visit at this time?
Robert: Yes, I will. Yes. Hmm. What shall we do? We could visit Big Ben and some other touristic places.
Kari: Yes, I’ve always wanted to see Buckingham Palace. Shall we ask your family to join us? I’d love to meet them.
Robert: I will, but I’m not sure that they will be able to go. Maybe we can make a better plan when you will be here.
Kari: Thank you, Robert. I think that was a lot of WILL and SHALL, but can our learners decide when to use WILL and when to use SHALL. Maybe you can explain, Robert.
Robert: Sure, sure. Will is used for future time. When we are not sure of the plan, we often use words like ‘maybe, perhaps or possibly’ to show we are not certain of our plans.
Kari: Oh! Like when I asked you if will be free for a visit – because I am not sure of your plans.
Robert: Exactly. Yeah, exactly. And so when I said I’m not sure if my family will be able to come. Will is also used when we make a promise.
Kari: Okay. Like when you said you will ask your family. You made a promise to me.
Robert: Yes, precisely. That’s right. Will is also used to make a prediction in the future when we don’t have evidence.
Kari: Like when you told me it will probably rain. I mean, you don’t have evidence. You can’t see the sky in the future.
Robert: Yes. That’s right. It’s impossible to predict the weather, right?
Kari: Yes, but what about shall?
Robert: Well, will and shall are both used to make an offer or a suggestion, but there is a difference. WILL is used when we make an offer as a sentence – like “I will give you a ride home.” And shall is when we make a suggestion or offer in question form, using I or WE.
Kari: So, I made a suggestion as a question when I asked, “Shall we ask your family?”
Robert: Correct. That’s right. Do you think our listeners got it?
Kari: I do! I do. Now, listeners, will you practice using will and shall????