Re: Will

Muke Tever scripsit:

> What's the difference between 'will' and 'shall'?
Historically, "will" represented simple futurity, whereas "shall" had
overtones of intention, command, suggestion, or what not, *except* in
the 1st person where the pattern was reversed.

"I shall drown, for no one will save me" was the cry of the accident
victim, whereas the suicide's declaration was "I will drown, for
no one shall save me."

Now this distinction has almost completely broken down, with "will"
used in all situations in place of "shall", with one very important
exception:  the idiom offering to do something for someone in the
form of a question is always "Shall I" do such-and-such, never "Will I".
(Except in Hiberno-English, where "shall" never took hold at all,
and "Will I?" is normal.)

--
John Cowan                                   cowan@ccil.org
       I am a member of a civilization. --David Brin