Will / Shall / Would

Will



"Will" is used with promises or voluntary actions that take place in the future. "Will" can also be used to make predictions about the future. For more information on using "will" and associated exercises, visit the Simple Future section of our Verb Tense Tutorial.

Examples:

I promise that I will write you every single day. promise
I will make dinner tonight. voluntary action
He thinks it will rain tomorrow. prediction

1- Will: Future action, prediction

The marketing director will be replaced by someone from the New York office.
Fred will be there by 8:00.
The marketing director will not be replaced after all.
Fred will not be there. He has a previous obligation

2- Will: Volunteering, promising

I will take care of everything for you.
I will make the travel arrangements. There's no need to worry.
I will never forget you.
I will never give up the fight for freedom.



Shall



"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. "Shall" is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English; Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formalized language.

Examples:

Shall I help you? suggestion
I shall never forget where I came from. promise
He shall become our next king. predestination
I'm afraid Mr. Smith shall become our new director. inevitability

1- Shall: Future action
(British form)

I shall be replaced by someone from the New York office.
I shall be there by 8:00.
I shall not be replaced after all.
I shall not be there. I have a previous obligation.

You can also use "will".

2- Shall: Suggestions

Shall we begin dinner?
Shall we move into the living room?

You can also use "should".

3- Shall: Volunteering, promising.
(British form)

I shall take care of everything for you.
I shall make the travel arrangements. There's no need to worry.
I shall never forget you.
I shall never give up the fight for freedom.

You can also use "will".

4- Shall: Inevitability
(British form)

Man shall explore the distant regions of the universe.
We shall overcome oppression.
Man shall never give up the exploration of the universe.
He shall not be held back.


Would



"Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will." Additionally, "would" can indicate repetition in the past. Examples:

If he were an actor, he would be in adventure movies. conditional
I knew that she would be very successful in her career. past of "will"
When they first met, they would always have picnics on the beach. repetition

1- Would: Conditional

Present:
If I were president, I would cut the cost of education.
If I were president, I would not raise taxes.

Past:
If I had been president, I would have cut the cost of education.
If I had been president, I would not have raised taxes.

Future:
If I were elected president next year, I would cut the cost of education.
If I were president, I would not sign the tax increase next week.

2- Would: Past of "will"

I said I would help you.
He told me he would be here before 8:00.
I said I wouldn't help you.
He told me he would not be here before 8:00.

3- Would: Repetition in past

When I was a kid, I would always go to the beach.
When he was young, he would always do his homework.
When I was a kid, I wouldn't go into the water by myself.
When he got older, he would never do his homework.

You can also use "used to".