Shall vs will

Shall

"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. "Shall" is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English; Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formalized language.

Examples:

• Shall I help you? suggestion
• I shall never forget where I came from. promise
• He shall become our next king. predestination
• I'm afraid Mr. Smith shall become our new director. inevitability

We don't use 'Shall' very frequently in modern English, particularly in American English.

It is used to make offers and suggestions and to ask for advice.

• What time shall we meet?
• Shall we vote on it now?
• What dress shall I wear?
• Shall I open the window?

You only really need to know that about 'shall' in modern English. Read the rest of this only if you want to know more about how some older speakers still use 'shall'.

Formerly, in older grammar, 'shall' was used as an alternative to 'will' with 'I' and 'we'. Today, 'will' is normally used. When we do use 'shall', it has an idea of a more personal, subjective future.

• I shall go to see the boss and I shall ask him to explain this decision.

Notice that the negative of 'shall' can be 'shall not' or 'shan't' – though the second one is now very rare in American English.

• I don't like these people and I shall not go to their party.
• I shan't object if you go without me.
   
  differences beetwen shall and will

  When do you use “will” and “shall?” I know that [they] mean the same thing, but I would like to know when to use them in the correct grammatical sense.

  In modern English will and shall are helping verbs. They are used with other verbs, but lack conjugations of their own.
  Both are signs of the future tense.
  The old Walsh English Handbook that I used in high school gives this rule for forming the future:
  

  Use shall in the first person and will in the second and third persons for the simple future tense:
  I shall sing this afternoon.
  You will succeed.
  He will stay at home.

  
  

  Formerly, shall was used as the first person form of the verb will to express future tense. Using will in first person implied intent or definite decision. When shall was used in second or third person, it expressed obligation.

  
  

  In modern American English, shall has generally been replaced by will. Shall is reserved mainly for contexts in which the speaker wants to sound formal or extremely polite. 

  
  

  However, when shall and will introduce questions, they have an important distinction in meaning. Shall asks for a preference or offers a polite suggestion, while will indicates future tense.

  "Shall we get a cup of coffee?" means "Do you want to get a cup of coffee?"

  "Will we get a cup of coffee?" involves speculation about future events, such as: "Do they serve coffee at this restaurant?" or "Is coffee included in the price of the meal?"

  

  
  
  

  Shall and Will

  The main use of the auxiliary verbs will and shall is to form the future tense. For example:
  
  

  • I will arrive on Tuesday.
  • I shall arrive on Tuesday.

  However, these days, the use of shall to form the future tense is becoming rarer (especially in the US), and it is safe to use will every time. In fact, to say it's "safe to use will every time" is understating the case. Unless you're asking a question (more on that below), it is largely expected (particularly in the US).
  
  That said, it might be useful to know the traditional rules for using will and shall because you never know when you might have to showcase your grammar skills or write to an audience of grammar pedants.
  Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/shall_will.htm#SRohAL9rZjgdo37e.99

  Shall and Will

  The main use of the auxiliary verbs will and shall is to form the future tense. For example:
  
  

  • I will arrive on Tuesday.
  • I shall arrive on Tuesday.

  However, these days, the use of shall to form the future tense is becoming rarer (especially in the US), and it is safe to use will every time. In fact, to say it's "safe to use will every time" is understating the case. Unless you're asking a question (more on that below), it is largely expected (particularly in the US).
  
  That said, it might be useful to know the traditional rules for using will and shall because you never know when you might have to showcase your grammar skills or write to an audience of grammar pedants.
  Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/shall_will.htm#SRohAL9rZjgdo37e.99