Unit 21: Will/shall 1

English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 21: Will/shall 1

We use I'll (= I will) when we've just decided to do something. When we say ‘I'll do something’, we announce our decision:

Oh, I've left the door open. I'll go and shut it.
'What would you like to drink?' ‘I'll have an orange juice, please.’
'Did you phone Lucy?' ‘Oh no, I forgot. I'll phone her now.’

You cannot use the present simple (I do / I go etc.) in these sentences:

I'll go and shut the door. (not I go and shut)

We often use I think I'll ... and I don't think I'll ... :

I feel a bit hungry. I think I'll have something to eat.
I don't think I'll go out tonight. I'm too tired.

In spoken English the negative of will is usually won't (= will not):

I can see you're busy, so I won't stay long.

Do not use will to talk about what you decided before (see Units 19-20):

I'm going on holiday next Saturday. (not I'll go)
Are you working tomorrow? (not Will you work)

We often use will in these situations:

Offering to do something

That bag looks heavy. I'll help you with it. (not I help)

Agreeing to do something

A: Can you give Tim this book?
B: Sure, I'll give it to him when I see him this afternoon.

Promising to do something

Thanks for lending me the money. I'll pay you back on Friday.
I won't tell anyone what happened. I promise.

Asking somebody to do something (Will you ... ?)

Will you please turn the music down? I'm trying to concentrate.

You can use won't to say that somebody refuses to do something:

I've tried to give her advice, but she won't listen.
The car won't start. (= the car 'refuses' to start)

Shall I ... ? Shall we ... ?

Shall is used mostly in the questions shall I ... ? / shall we ... ?
We use shall I ... ? / shall we ... ? to ask somebody's opinion (especially in offers or suggestions):

Shall I open the window? (= Do you want me to open the window?)
I've got no money. What shall I do? (= What do you suggest?)
‘Shall we go?’ ‘Just a minute. I'm not ready yet.’
‘Where shall we have lunch?’ ‘Let's go to Marino's.’

Compare shall I ... ? and will you ... ?:

Shall I shut the door? (= Do you want me to shut it?)
Will you shut the door? (= I want you to shut it)

21.1 Complete the sentences with I'll + a suitable verb.

I'm too tired to walk home. I think a taxi.
‘It's cold in this room.’ 'Is it? __________ on the heating then.’
‘Bye! Have a nice holiday!’ ‘Thanks. __________ you a postcard.’
'Shall I do the washing-up?' 'No, it's all right. __________ it later.'
'I don't know how to shut down this computer.' 'OK, __________ you.'
'Would you like tea or coffee?' '__________ coffee, please.'
'Are you coming with us?' 'No, I think __________ here.'
Thanks for lending me the money. __________ it back as soon as possible, OK?
A: I know you're busy, but can you finish this report this afternoon?
B: Well, __________ , but I can't promise.

21.2 Read the situations and write sentences with I think I'll ... or I don't think I'll ... .

It's a bit cold. The window is open and you decide to close it. You say:
.
You are feeling tired and it's getting late. You decide to go to bed. You say:
I think __________ .
A friend of yours offers you a lift in his car, but you decide to walk. You say:
Thank you, but __________ .
You were going to have lunch. Now you decide that you don't want to eat anything. You say:
I don't think __________ .
You planned to go swimming. Now you decide that you don't want to go. You say:
__________ .

21.3 Which is correct? (If necessary, study Units 19-20 first.)

'Did you phone Lucy?' 'Oh no, I forgot. I phone / I'll phone her now.'
- I phone
- I'll phone
I can't meet you tomorrow. I'm playing / I'll play tennis.
- I'm playing
- I'll play
‘I meet / I'll meet you outside the hotel in half an hour, OK?’ ‘Yes, that's fine.’
- I meet
- I'll meet
‘I need some money.’ ‘OK, I'm lending / I'll lend you some. How much do you need?’
- I'm lending
- I'll lend
I'm having / I'll have a party next Saturday. I hope you can come.
- I'm having
- I'll have
‘Remember to get a newspaper when you go out.’ ‘OK, I don't forget / I won't forget.’
- I don't forget
- I won't forget
What time does your train leave / will your train leave tomorrow?
- does your train leave
- will your train leave
I asked Sue what happened, but she doesn't tell / won't tell me.
- doesn't tell
- won't tell
‘Are you doing / Will you do anything tomorrow evening?’ ‘No, I'm free. Why?’
- Are you doing
- Will you do
I don't want to go out alone. Do you come / Will you come with me?
- Do you come
- Will you come

21.4 What do you say in these situations? Write sentences with shall I ... ? or shall we ... ?

You and a friend want to do something this evening, but you don't know what.
You ask your friend: ⁽¹⁾ .
You try on a jacket in a shop. You are not sure whether to buy it or not.
You ask a friend for advice: ⁽²⁾ __________ it?
It's Helen's birthday next week. You want to give her a present, but you don't know what.
You ask a friend for advice:
What ⁽³⁾ __________ ?
You and a friend are going on holiday together, but you have to decide where.
You ask him/her: ⁽⁴⁾ __________ ?
You and a friend are going out. You have to decide whether to go by car or to walk.
You ask him/her: ⁽⁵⁾ __________ or ⁽⁶⁾ __________ ?
Your friend wants you to come and see her. You don't know what t ime to come.
You ask her: ⁽⁷⁾ __________ ?

Answer Key

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