Mastering the uses of shall, will, should, and would is essential for correct English grammar, sentence structure, and precise communication of tense, mood, and intent.
What is the Difference Between Shall and Will in Simple Future Sentences?
Rule: 1) সাধারণ ভবিষ্যৎ (Simple Future) বুঝাইতে First Person- এর সহিত 'shall' এবং second ও Third Person- এর সহিত will বসে। (Shall is used after the First Person and is used after the Second and Third Person to express a simple futurity.)
| Person (পুরুষ) | Singular (একবচন) | Plural (বহুবচন) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | I shall go. | we shall go. |
| 2nd | you will go. | you will go. |
| 3rd | He will go. | They will go. |
I shall buy a book.
Explanation: Here 'shall' is used after the first person to denote a simple futurity.
You will go with me.
Explanation: Here 'will' is used in the second person to express a simple futurity.
They will help us.
Explanation: Here 'will' in the third person expresses a simple futurity.
How to Express Willingness, Determination, and Promise with Will
Rule: 2) ইচ্ছা (willingness), সঙ্কল্প (determination), প্রতিজ্ঞা (promise) বুঝাইতে 1st person এর পরে Will বসে।
I will do (I am determined to do).
I will lend you five takas. (I am willing to lend)
- 1. We will help if you come with us.
Explanation: Here 'will' in the first person expresses a promise of the speaker. - 2. I will stand by you.
Explanation: Here 'will' is used in the first person to express a determination. - 3. I will see him to-morrow.
Explanation: Here will is used in the first person to express an Intention or desire. - 4. Rahim willed his property before his death.
Explanation: Here willed is the past tense of will. It means disposal of property by the will. It is used as a Transitive verb having the Noun property as its objective.
When to Use Shall for Commands and Threats in Second and Third Person
Rule 3) বক্তার আদেশ (order or command), ইচ্ছা (desire or intention), প্রতিজ্ঞা (promise) বুঝাতে Second ও Third Person এর শেষে shall বসে। ( shall is used after the Second and Third Person to denote command, threat desire and p of the speaker)
যথাঃ
- 1. He shall suffer for his sins.
Explanation: Here'shall is used in the third person to express a threat. - 2. Tomorrow shall be a holiday.
Explanation: Here shall is used with the third person to denote a command. - 3. He shall have his share.
Explanation: Here shall in the third person expresses a promise. - 4. The prisoner shall be hanged.
Explanation: Here shall in the third person expresses a command.
Contrasting Chart for Simple Futurity and Its Reverse
# সাধারণ ভবিষ্যৎ ( simple futurity)- এর বিপরীত চার্ট
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | I will go. | We will go. |
| 2nd | You shall go. | You shall go. |
| 3rd | He shall go. | They shall go. |
i) Tomorrow will be a holiday
ii) Tomorrow shall be a holiday.
প্রথম বাক্যে Tomorrow Third Person, সাধারণ ভবিষ্যৎকাল বুঝাইতে ইহার পরে will বসিয়াছে বাক্যে Tomorrow Third Person, কিন্তু এখানে shall command বা আদেশ বুঝাইতেছে।
- i) Tomorrow will be a stormy day. (Simple Futurity)
- ii) Tomorrow shall be a stormy day. This is the announcement of the weat forecast (threat).
- iii) I shall be rewarded (merely a statement]
- iv) I will be rewarded (determination).
Shall and Will in the Interrogative Sentence
Rule: 1) প্রশ্নবোধক বাক্যসমূহের ভবিষ্যৎ (simple futurity) বুঝাইতে First ও Second person-এ shall এবং third person-এ will ব্যবহৃত হয়। (Shall is used in the First and the Second Person and Will is used in the Third Person for enquiries as to the future action)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st. | Shall I go? | Shall we go? |
| 2nd. | Shall you go? | Shall you go? |
| 3rd. | Will he go? | Will they go? |
Shall I go there? — It is a mere enquiry.
Shall you lend me some books? — It is a mere enquiry about something future.
- 1. Will he go with you?
Explanation: Here will in the third person in the interrogative indicates a simple enquiry as to the future action. - 2. Shall we do the work?
Explanation: Here'shall in the second person in the expresses an enquiry about something future. - 3. Shall I go home?
Explanation: Here 'shall' in the first person expresses a simple future.
লক্ষ্য করঃ First Person এ shall সাধারণ ভবিষ্যৎ (simple futurity অর্থাৎ a simple enquiry as to the future action) বুঝায় ।
৩ নং উদাহরণ দেখ । আবার First Person-এ 'shall' দ্বারা যাহাকে প্রশ্ন করা হয়, তাহার ইচ্ছা (desire of person spoken to) বুঝায় । ইহার ব্যতিক্রম ৪নং উদাহরণে দেখ ।
- 4. Shall I give you a pen?
Explanation: Here 'shall in the first person in the interrogative sentence sses an enquiry as to the desire of the person spoken to.
Rule: 2) প্রশ্নবোধক বাক্যসমূহে যে ব্যক্তিকে জিজ্ঞাসা করা হইতেছে, তাহার অভিপ্রায় বা আদেশ জানিবার ইচ্ছা (intention or desire of the person spoken-to) বুঝাইলে Second Person-এর সহিত' will এবং Person- এর সহিত shall বসে।
(Will is used in the Second Person and shall is used Third Person to indicate an enquiry as to the intention or desire of the person spoken to)
যথাঃ
| Person | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | x | x |
| 2nd | will you go? | Will you go? |
| 3rd | shall he go? | Shall they go? |
[বিঃ দ্রঃ First Person- এর পূর্বে কখনও will ব্যবহৃত হয় না]
- 1. Will you give me the book?
Explanation: Here 'will' in the second person in the interrogative sentence indicates an enquiry as to the intention of the person spoken to. - 2. Shall he allow me to enter into the room?
Explanation: Here 'shall' in the third person in the interrogative sentence resses an enquiry as to the desire of the person spoken to.
Should এবং Would ব্যবহারের কয়েকটি নিয়ম:
Rule: 1) Shall- Past Tense 'Should' Will- Past Tense 'Would'. ইহারা Future the Past বুঝাইবার জন্য ব্যবহৃত হয়। যথা:
He said that he would not go home.
Karim said to me that I should do that work.
Rule: 2) বিনয় প্রকাশ করিতে First Person-এ should ব্যবহার করা হয়। ('Should' is used in first person to express modesty.)
যথাঃ I should do it for him.
Rule: 3) শর্ত কিম্বা ইচ্ছা প্রকাশ করিতে 'should' ব্যবহার করা চলে ('Should' is used to express willingness and condition.)
যথাঃ If I were a king, I should do it.
Rule: 4) সকল Person- এ should কর্তব্য ও বাধ্যবাধকতা বুঝায়। (Should is used to mean duty and obligation in all persons.)
- Boys should not smoke.
- You should obey your parents.
- You should go home.
Rule: 5) Lest, conjunction- 'এর পরে should'ব্যবহার করা হয়। (Should' is also used after the conjunction 'Lest) :
Walk fast lest you should miss the steamer.
Rule: 6) অতীতের অভ্যাস (Past habitual action) বুঝাইতে would ব্যবহৃত হয়। ('Would' is used express past habitual action) :
Mr. Zaman would often come late in the office.
Rule: 7) মাঝে মাঝে করণীয় অনিয়মিত কাজ বুঝাইতে সকল Person-এ 'would' বা 'used to' ব্যবহৃত হয় (Would' or 'used to' is used in all persons to express an action at regular intervals)
While I was at Bogra, I would go to the airport.
Rule: 8) বিনয় সহকারে "অনুরোধ করা বুঝাইলে 'would' ব্যবহার করিতে হয়। ('Would' is used to express request with politeness)
যথাঃ I hope, you would kindly grant my petition.
Key Takeaways
- Simple futurity with the first person typically uses shall, while the second and third persons use will.
- To express determination, willingness, or promises in the first person, will is used instead of shall.
- Should expresses duty, obligation, modesty, conditions, and follows the conjunction "lest".
- Would denotes past habitual actions, regular intervals, and polite requests.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of the uses of shall, will, should, and would by dropping your answers in the comments below!
- Fill in the blank with the correct form: "We _____ help if you come with us."
- Identify the correct modal for past habitual action: "Mr. Zaman _____ often come late in the office."
FAQ
What is the main difference between shall and will in simple future sentences?
In standard simple future tense, shall is used with the first person (I, we), while will is used with the second and third persons (you, he, she, they).
How do you use should with the conjunction lest?
Should is specifically used directly after the conjunction "lest" to indicate a negative purpose or precaution, such as in "Walk fast lest you should miss the steamer."
Can would be used for past habits?
Yes, would (along with "used to") can be used across all persons to express a past habitual action or an action occurring at regular intervals.