Shall acquires special values:

a) in the 1st person sg/pl. interrogative sentences it expresses:

- request for advice or suggestion:
Where shall I put the books?
What shall we do this afternoon? Lets go for a walk.
Ive lost my bag! What shall I do?
- making an offer:
Shall I open the door? (= Do you want me to open the door?)
Shall we carry those bags for you?
b) in the 2nd and 3rd persons sg/pl. shall expresses: the speakers (subjects) intention to perform a
certain action as well as a command. Both these uses are rather formal, oldfashioned and are
normally avoided in spoken English.
- the speakers intention to perform a certain action:
They shall have my support (promise, determination)
You shall have your money by the end of the week.
They shall not pass (We wont allow them to come here)
He shant come here (I wont let him come).
Note: Modal shall is replaced by suitable equivalents in reported speech: He said They shall have
my support. He promised them his support
- command, formal instruction:
Each competitor shall wear a number.
All students shall attend classes regularly.
Applicants shall fill in a form.
This construction is chiefly used in regulations, legal documents, or older texts (e.g. the Bible
Thou shalt not kill). In less formal English must, have to or be to would be used instead of shall
in the above sentences. The same modals replace shall in reported / indirect speech
Each competitor shall wear a number The regulations say that each competitor must/ has
to/
is to wear a number The regulations said that each competitor must / had to / was to
wear
a number.
Will expresses modal values:
a) in the 1st pers. sg/pl. will expresses unpremeditated intention, immediate decision:
Can somebody help me? I will.
Its hot in here. Ill open the window.
Ive said it before, but now I really will stop smoking.
b) in the 2nd, 3rd pers. sg/pl/, interrogative sentences will expresses willingness: request, invitation:
Will you do me a favour? (request)
Will you give me a helping hand?
Will you come in please? (invitation)
c) in negative sentences will expresses absence of willingness, i.e. refusal. Compare:
I wont see him again. (= I refuse to see him again)
I shant see him again. (There will be no opportunity for another meeting)