238. In conjugating a verb in the future tense, indicative mode, we make use of the auxiliaries shall and will.

These verb phrases express simple futurity,—they assert an intention on the part of the person indicated by the subject, but not a promise.

239. We have another set of verb phrases belonging to the future tense, indicative mode:—

These phrases are used to express a promise, a vow, or a threat on the part of the speaker; that is, the speaker will see to it that the action is carried out. There is more of certainty in these phrases than in those of the first set.

240. Shall and will with have are used also in forming the future perfect tense; as, I shall have gone, he will have come, etc. There is much less occasion to use the future perfect tense than there is to use the simple future tense, so we shall discuss the use of shall and will only in the future tense. When that is mastered, the future perfect tense will present no difficulties.

241. Frequent errors are made in the use of shall and will. Perhaps the commonest occur in interrogative sentences. Many persons say carelessly, “Will I open this window for you?” This question means, “Am I going to open this window for you?” and the only possible answer is, “I am sure I don’t know.” What is really intended by the question is this, “Do you wish me to open this window?” hence we should say, “Shall I open this window for you?” The rule is,—When the subject of an interrogative sentence is I or we, the auxiliary shall should be used instead of will.

242. In questions where the subject is a word of the second or the third person, we should use in the question the form we expect in the answer. A boy should say to his employer, “Shall you be in your office this afternoon?” because he expects the reply, “I shall,” meaning, “I intend to be there.” But a boy says to another boy, “Will you pitch for us to-morrow?” because he expects the reply, “I will,” meaning “I promise.”

Summary.—Rules for the use of shall and will:—

(1) To assert simple futurity use shall in the first person, and will in the second and third persons.

(2) To assert determination, a promise, or a threat, use will in the first person, shall in the second and third persons.

(3) In questions use shall in the first person. In the second and third persons use will or shall according to the answer you should get. The form of the answer is to be determined by rules 1 and 2.

Exercise 1.—Account for the use of shall and will in the following sentences:—

1. “What shall we do next?” said I, with a long breath.

2. Thou shalt hang for laying thy hand upon me.

3. Will you please tell me whether Mrs. Josiah Wheeler lives on this road?

4. You shall have a birthday party on the lawn, and I will make you a soldier suit, and papa will get you a drum, and the supper table shall be set under the balm-of-Gilead tree.

5. “No,” said the fairy, “this is my ax, and it shall lie upon the shelf, while you must dive for yours, yourself.”

6. “We will come into the crop lands to play with thee by night,” said Gray Brother to Mowgli.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.

8. The first social problem is the problem of rule: who shall exercise it, how far shall it go, and by what means shall it be enforced?

9. Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

10. Let us rest ourselves, and then we shall be better able to pursue our walk.

11.

When shall we three meet again

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

12. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, whence cometh my strength.

13.

Who will fill our vacant places?

Who will sing our songs to-night?

14.

The daisies will be there, love.

The stars in heaven will shine;

But I shall not feel thy wish, love,

Nor thou my hand in thine.

Tell the part of speech and use of thy, sentence 2, me 3, you 4, this 5, yours 5, yourself 5, children 7, we 11, mine 12.

Exercise 2.—Fill the blanks with the proper auxiliary, and give your reason in each case.

1. O mother dear, Jerusalem, when —— I come to thee?

2.

We —— meet, but we —— miss him,

There —— be one vacant chair.

3. There is no market in the world in which money —— buy brains.

4. You —— always have this little blue Wedgwood tea set to remember her by.

5. —— you wear the hat even if it is not becoming?

6. I —— know him when he comes, happy youth.

7. —— you get my watch that was left at the jeweler’s?

8.

Oh, who —— walk a mile with me

Along life’s merry way?

9. If you do not promise to be home before midnight, you —— not go to the ball.

10.

Three years she grew in sun and shower,

Then Nature said, “A lovelier flower

On earth was never sown;

This Child I to myself —— take;

She —— be mine, and I —— make

A Lady of my own.

“The stars of midnight —— be dear

To her; and she —— lean her ear

In many a secret place

Where rivulets dance their wayward round,

And beauty born of murmuring sound

—— pass into her face.

“And vital feelings of delight

—— rear her form to stately height,

Her virgin bosom swell;

Such thoughts to Lucy I —— give

While she and I together live

Here in this happy dell.”