Transcript of Lesson 15 – The Difference of Shall and Should

SOS Grammar: Lesson 15 – The Difference Between ‘should’ and ‘shall’.

In English, there are two words that are often confused: ”shall” and ”should”. These modal verbs have different meanings and it’s essential to use them correctly to avoid confusion.

The words ”shall” and ”should” are related to each other, because ”should” is the past tense of ”shall”. But they cannot always be used in place of each other as their meaning changes with the sentence structure.

In this lesson, we will discuss the difference between ”shall” and ”should”, and when it’s appropriate to use each word. I will also briefly explain when ”shall” and ‘will’ can be used. They can often be used interchangeably. However, there are some instances where one word is more appropriate than the other.

Why does it matter? ”should” and ”shall” are auxiliary verbs like I explained. They collaborate with another verb to improve the meaning. The semantics they provide, on the other hand, is quite different.

Finally, they indicate whether something is possible or definitely will happen. While it may seem minor, This is actually a crucial distinction. So let’s look at the meanings of both terms before we choose between them in which situation.

So, ‘shall’ indicates certainty. ‘Shall’ is not used as much these days. However, you will see examples of it in formal speech and legal documents and also in questions. It is commonly used together with other verbs, to express intention. As in what one plans or intends or expects to do, as well as communicate obligation in the case of laws and directives. And it can also be used, as I said, to ask questions.

‘Shall’ tends to be more formal as well. As might be the case with official rules. ‘Shall’, in the second and third person, is used to give commands or express rules, so it’s often found in government legislation as well as in the traditional version of the Ten Commandments. Thou ‘shall’ not steal.

So let’s look at the dictionary meaning and some examples of ‘shall’. Let’s look at some examples from the Collins dictionary. You use ‘shall’ with ‘I’ and ‘we’ in questions to make offers or suggestions or to ask for advice.

For example, “‘Shall’ I call her and ask her to come here?” But you can also use ‘should’. “‘should’ I call her and ask her to come here?” So in this example, they can be used interchangeably.

You use ‘shall’ usually with ‘I’ and ‘we’ when you are referring to something that you intend to do, or when you are referring to something that you are sure will happen to you in the future. For example, “We ‘shall’ be landing in Paris in 16 minutes. Exactly on time.” Certainty.

You can put ‘should’ in this sentence also. However, it has some doubt in the context. “We ‘should’ be landing in Paris in 16 minutes, but I’m not sure.”

Next you use ‘shall’ with ‘I’ or ‘we’ during a speech, or piece of writing, to say what you are going to discuss or explain later. For example, “In chapter three, I ‘shall’ describe some of the documentation that I gathered.” Now, in this example, ‘shall’ can be interchangeably used with ‘will’. “In chapter three, I ‘will’ describe some of the documentation that I gathered.”

We can also use ‘shall’ to indicate that something must happen usually because of a rule or law. For example, “The President ‘shall’ hold office for five years.” And we can use ‘will’ instead of this sentence: “The President ‘will’ hold office for five years.” But we can’t use the word ‘should’ because it’s not uncertain. We are very certain about it. So we need to use ‘shall’ or ‘will’.

You use ‘shall’ usually with ‘you’ when you are telling someone that they will be able to do or have something they want. For example, “If you want to go, then you ‘shall’.” And we can change that to say with ‘will’: “If you want to go, then you ‘will’.” But you can’t say “..then you ‘should'” because it says an obligation that we’re not sure about. It’s kind of expressing an obligation.

Next, we use ‘shall’ with verbs such as ‘look forward to’ and ‘hope’ to say politely that you are looking forward to something, or hoping to do something. For example, “Well, we ‘shall’ look forward to seeing him tomorrow.” And that can be changed to “Well, we ‘will’ look forward to seeing him tomorrow.”

Another way we can use ‘shall’. You can use ‘shall’ when you are referring to the likely result or consequence of a particular action or situation. For example, “This is our last chance and we ‘shall’ need to take it if we are to compete and survive.” And we can change that for ‘will’. “This is our last chance and we ‘will’ need to take it if we are to compete and survive.”

On the other hand, ‘should’ indicates certainty or possibility, but can sometimes imply uncertainty. Now ‘should’ is the past tense of ‘shall’. But it also is used to express duty, obligation, give advice or express an opinion. When you say something ‘should’ happen or someone ‘should’ do something, you aren’t saying that thing that this thing is definitely going to happen. There’s some degree of uncertainty that goes with this word.

‘Should’ can be used to talk about an event that must take place or already has taken place. When we use ‘should’, it often indicates that it is in the person’s best interest to perform an action. For example, “You ‘should’ look both ways before crossing the street.”

Here are some more examples to help you decide when to use ‘shall’ ‘should’ and ‘will’. So we have suggestions. “‘Shall’ we get pizza or Thai tonight?” Could also be “‘Should’ we get pizza or Thai tonight?”

Offers. “You look tired. ‘Shall’ I drive instead?” “You look tired. ‘Should’ I drive instead?”

Instructions. “What ‘shall’ I do with the mail when it arrives?” “What ‘should’ I do with the mail when it arrives?”

Obligations. “We ‘shall’ follow the rules at school.” “We ‘will’ follow the rules at school.” And if you say “We ‘should’ follow the rules at school”, it means it’s something that you ‘should’ do, but you have some uncertainty or there’s still a margin of maybe not following the rules.

So that’s where the subtle difference comes from. So “we ‘shall’ follow the rules” and “we ‘will’ follow the rules” means that you are going to follow them. Whereas when you say “we ‘should’ follow the rules, but we don’t,” for example.

Okay. What about promises? We don’t use ‘should’ with promises. So, “If I find out any more information, you ‘shall’ be the first to know.” “If I find out any more information, you ‘will’ be the first to know.” “I ‘shall’ call you back after I finish this meeting.” “I ‘will’ call you back after I finish this meeting.”

We can’t use ‘should’ in this example to mean the same thing. For example, if I said “If I find out any more information, you ‘should’ be the first to know.” That implies some uncertainty. There could be a possibility that somebody else will be the first to know.

We can also use ‘shall’ for confirmation. “I ‘shall’ meet you there in the morning.” And we can change that to ‘will’: “I ‘will’ meet you there in the morning.”

When we want to state an opinion, however, we would use ‘should’. For example, “You’ve had a sore throat for three days, so you ‘should’ see a doctor.” So there is some part of this, which means you’re uncertain. “I ‘should’ get more sleep at night.” “The bus ‘should’ arrive at 8:30.”

But if you wanted these statements, if you wanted to turn them more into facts and you want to use ‘shall’, let’s change them so that they include ‘shall’.

“I’ve had a sore throat for three days. I made an appointment, so I ‘shall’ see the doctor tomorrow.” There is certainty in that statement. “I ‘shall’ get more sleep when my kids go on camp.” There is certainty in that statement. And finally, “The bus ‘shall’ arrive any minute.” It’s certain.

So in summary, the main difference between ‘shall’ and ‘should’ is that ‘shall’ is used to indicate something that will happen in the future. While ‘should’ is used to indicate obligation or duty. And there is some uncertainty.

We can also use ‘shall’ in legal documentation. So you might hear, for example, something like this: “Party A ‘shall’ pay Party B $1,000 on January the first in 2023.” If we were to replace the word ‘shall’ with ‘should’, it would mean that there is some degree of uncertainty or a little bit of a grey area, which means they don’t necessarily have to, but ‘shall’ implies that they must.

And you might also see something like “‘Should’ the client wish to make any changes to the contract, they must respond in writing.” So in this case ‘should’ is used to ask the question if the client wishes to make any changes.

So to know which one is correct, it’s to make sure that you put them into practice. Because remember, both words can be used in the same context, but not always in the same way.

So, complete the quiz to test your knowledge on when to use ‘shall’ and ‘should’.