When should you use the word should and the word shall? Continue reading and you shall learn the answer!
In this article, we will explore the differences between should and shall, explain when and how we typically use these words, and provide examples of how we typically use them in sentences.
⚡ Quick summary
Shall is an auxiliary verb (helping verb) that has several different meanings. It can be used to express what oneplans to, intends to, or expects to do, as well communicate obligation (in the case of laws and directives). Shall is often used interchangeably with the word will (though much less commonly) to form the future tense. Should is the past tense of shall, but it is also used to express duty or obligation.
When to use shall or should
The word shall is an auxiliary verb, also known as a helping verb. It is commonly used together with other verbs to express intention, as in whatoneplans to, intends to, or expects to do, as well communicate obligation (in the case of laws and directives). It can also be used to ask questions. For example:
- I shall go with Gary to the store tomorrow.
- We shall return this wallet because it is the right thing to do.
- All official meetings shall be held in the town hall.
- Shall we dance?
Should is the past tense form of shall. Should is the form of shall that is used in the subjunctive mood to express hypothetical statements. For example:
- If the king should die unexpectedly, his brother becomes regent.
However, this usage of should is not common in modern American English (and is more common in British English). Instead, should is most often used to state an obligation or duty someone has, as in You should always have a spare roll of toilet paper or I really should clean the garage, but I can never find the time.
Both shall and should are used in questions. Both words are often used interchangeably, but the word should often implies that the asker is more conflicted or less confident in what the correct answer is than if they used the word shall. For example:
- Shall I open this door? (The asker is pretty confident that opening the door is the correct thing to do.)
- Should I open this door? (The asker is hesitant about opening the door or doesn’t know if opening the door is a good idea or not.)
Like other auxiliary verbs, shall and should are sometimes used alone. In these cases, the main verb is understood but has been omitted. For example:
- She asked me if I will go to the party tonight and I said that I shall (go).
- I don’t wash my car as often as I should (wash it).
In legal contexts, the wordshall has been used to express a legal obligation. However, the word shall is now considered too imprecise for legal documents due to its widespread ambiguous and inconsistent use by lawyers. In the Plain Writing Act of 2010, the government recommends the use of the word must in place of shall to refer to a legal obligation.
Verbs similar to shall and should
Two other auxiliary verbs follow a similar pattern to shall and should. The word would is used as the past tense of will and the word could is used as the past tense of can.
Would you like to learn about another pair? Then review this guide on will vs. would.
Examples of shall and should used in a sentence
We should test what we have learned by looking at example sentences that show how we typically use shall and should.
- We shall decorate the ballroom tonight.
- You really should avoid going near that hornet’s nest.
- If it should rain tomorrow, the guests can eat inside.
- Shall we tell him which box we think he should open?
- I think we should ask somebody where the parade shall be held.
Take The Quiz
Feeling confident about how much you’ve learned about these verbs already? If so, we think you shall perform admirably on our quiz on shall vs. should. You may surprise yourself with what you’ve learned!
FAQs
The main difference between the modal verbs 'shall' and 'should' is that 'shall' is used to indicate future action or intention and to express a command or suggestion, while 'should' is used to indicate advice, suggestion, obligation, probability, or hypothetical situations.
What is the main difference between shall and should? ›
The word 'shall' is used to show strong intention/assertion about an action that will happen in the future. 'Shall' is used more in formal writing than 'should'. The word 'should' is used to give suggestions/advice. It's also used when one is talking about probable situations.
What is the rule of should? ›
Should is a modal verb. Modal verbs follow these rules: Modal verbs do not take any endings like -s, -ed or -ing (never 'shoulds' or 'shoulded') Modal verbs are followed by the base form of another verb (should do, should be)
Where do we use shall? ›
The differences are subtle, but what is important to note is that both will and shall are used with all verbs to form the future tense. The traditional rule of future tense says that shall is used in the first person (I shall eat lunch) and will is used in all other persons (you will eat lunch, she will eat lunch).
What is the basic difference between will and shall? ›
As a general rule, use 'will' for affirmative and negative sentences about the future. Use 'will' for requests too. If you want to make an offer or suggestion with I/we, use 'shall' in the question form. For very formal statements, especially to describe obligations, use 'shall'.
What is the difference between shall and should with examples? ›
For instance, 'shall' indicates a strong intention or assertion about a future action, like in the sentence, 'We shall overcome the obstacle. ' On the other hand, 'should' indicates duty, probability, or obligation. It's often used when criticizing actions, like in the sentence, 'You should have been more careful.
Should I call you or shall I call you? ›
“Should I" is asking for an opinion or advice to call you, “can I" (may I, might I) is asking your permission, and “shall I" is checking whether or not the other person is agreeing to the call as you do or not. To me, shall I is, as common speech in Canada at least, very polite and a “proper" way to ask.
Why not to use the word should? ›
The problem is that “should” is a terrible authority figure. The word “should” by definition implies that you have an obligation to complete an action. It also implies there will be a consequence if you fail to do so. Sometimes this may be true, but it's ultimately demotivating.
What does should mean in grammar? ›
(ʃʊd ) verb. the past tense of shall: used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that an action is considered by the speaker to be obligatory (you should go) or to form the subjunctive mood with I or we (I should like to see you; if I should be late, go without me) See also shall.
Does the word should mean must? ›
The word 'should' is used for actions/responsibilities/duties that what one thinks is best for the concerned subject. The word 'must' is used for actions/responsibilities/duties that are considered compulsory/necessary. It is used as an Auxiliary Verb. It is used as an Auxiliary Verb.
It is pretty much dead in American English, and it's dying in British English. Using it makes you sound posh. You only really use it in formal suggestions, because informal suggestions would use want. Shall for commands is used only in legal contexts.
What are examples of shall? ›
Shall: uses
We use shall I and shall we to make offers and suggestions, and to ask for advice. Shall I carry your bag? Shall I call again on Thursday? What shall we do with this?
Do Americans say shall? ›
However, in modern American English, shall is almost never used to talk about the future. It sounds very formal, and we pretty much always use “will” or even more commonly, the short form: I'll call him tomorrow. We'll arrive on Friday.
Which is stronger will or shall? ›
To express a strong determination to do something these positions are reversed, with will being used with the first person and shall with the second and third persons, e.g. "I will not tolerate this"; "you shall go to school." In practice, however, shall and will are today used more or less interchangeably in ...
What does shall mean legally? ›
Shall is an imperative command, usually indicating that certain actions are mandatory, and not permissive. This contrasts with the word “may,” which is generally used to indicate a permissive provision, ordinarily implying some degree of discretion.
Do we say we will or we shall? ›
Technically, the traditional rule of future tense says that shall is used in the first person (I, we) and will is used in all other persons (you, he/she, they). In practice, most English speakers do not follow this rule and the two words are often considered to be interchangeable when forming the future tense.
What is the rule of the word shall? ›
Shall is an imperative command, usually indicating that certain actions are mandatory, and not permissive. This contrasts with the word “may,” which is generally used to indicate a permissive provision, ordinarily implying some degree of discretion.
Why don't we use shall? ›
However, we recommend that you do not use shall in your American English as it sounds too formal, too old-fashioned, and too British. Rather, stick to should or will—depending on the context.
Should you use must or shall? ›
Use “must” not “shall” to impose requirements. “Shall” is ambiguous, and rarely occurs in everyday conversation. The legal community is moving to a strong preference for “must” as the clearest way to express a requirement or obligation.
Does the word shall mean must? ›
The legal writing scholars suggest using “must” instead of “shall” for a mandatory word because “shall has become so corrupted by misuse that it has no firm meaning. It can mean 'must,' 'should,' 'will,' 'may,' or 'is.
