Unit 21. Will / shall 1.

Unit 21; Part A

We use I'll (= I will) when we decide to do something at the time of speaking:

•    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.

Unit 21; Part B

Do not use will to talk about what you have already decided or arranged to do (see Unit 19 and Unit 20):

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

Unit 21; Part C

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.
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Asking somebody to do something (Will you ... ?)
• Will you please turn the stereo 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)

Unit 21; Part D

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 go this evening?

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)

Exercises

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

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

1    I"m too tired to walk home. I think   I'll take a taxi.
2    'It's cold in this room.'    'Is it? ______________ on the heating then.'
3    A: We haven't got any milk.
      B: Oh, I forgot to buy some. ______________ and get some now.
4    'Shall I do the washing-up?'    'No. it's all right. ______________ it later.'
5    I don't know how to use this computer.'    'OK, ______________ you.'
6    'Would you like tea or coffee?' '______________ coffee, please.'
7    'Goodbye! Have a nice holiday.'    'Thanks. ______________ you a postcard.'
8    Thanks for letting me borrow your camera. ______________ it back to you on Monday, OK?
9    'Are you coming with us?'    'No, I think ______________ here.'

2 Read the situations.

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

1    It's a bit cold. The window is open and you decide to close it. You say:
       I think I'll close the window.
2    You are feeling tired and it's getting late. You decide to go to bed. You say:
      I think _________________________________
3    A friend of yours offers you a lift in his car, but you decide to walk. You say:
      Thank you, but _________________________________
4    You arranged to play tennis today. Now you decide that you don't want to play. You say:
      I don't think _________________________________
5    You were going to go swimming. Now you decide that you don't want to go. You say:
      _________________________________

3 Which is correct?

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

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

4 What do you say in these situations?

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

1    You and a friend want to do something this evening, but you don't know what.
      You ask your friend. What shall we do this evening?
2    You try on a jacket in a shop. You are not sure whether to buy it or not.
      You ask a friend for advice.    it?
3    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
4    You and a friend are going on holiday together, but you haven't decided where.
      You ask him/her.
5    You and a friend are going out. You haven't decided whether to go by car or to walk.
      You ask him/her.    or
6    Your friend wants you to phone later. You don't know what time to phone. You ask him/her.

Unit 20 Unit 21 Unit 22