The future tense is a combination of the simple infinitive of a verb with the auxiliary shall or will. It is worth while to note carefully the exact meanings of shall and will.

1. In Independent1 Statements

Shall, which comes from the old infinitive sculan, meaning "to owe," now denotes "what is to happen." Hence the meaning of I shall is " I am destined to," "I am going to."

If, without expressing his own determination, a person tells what you are going to do, or what some one else is going to do, he uses will. He does not profess to control any one's future but his own.

These forms, then, express the simple future:

Will has different shades of meaning. I will means (1) "I am willing," (2) "I wish," (3) "I am determined," so strong is my wish. Again, I may declare my will or determination in a promise or a threat. If in a position to control your will, to determine your conduct, I may say what you shall do, are destined to do. If I can control the will or conduct of my neighbor, I may tell him what he shall do, is destined to do. A general term which includes all these shades of meaning is volition.

1 An independent statement is one that is grammatically complete.

These forms express volition:

Exercise

263. Be prepared to discuss the following examples:

1. I shall go to school to-morrow if I am able. (It is not a question of will, but of what is to happen - of simple futurity.) So "I shall study till nine o'clock."

2. You will doubtless meet my father.

3. He will return to-night.

4. We shall leave in the morning.

5. They will be at the station.

6. I will see him to-morrow if I can. ("It is my wish," or the sentence may imply promise).

7. I will second any motion you choose to make. (It may mean merely "I am willing to," or it may imply promise).

8. I will not stay another minute. (Determination).

9. You shall start at once; I am bound you shall. ("I have both the determination and the authority necessary to start you," is the implication.) Compare the meaning of "You will start at once."

10. He shall go with you. (Just like "You shall start at once.")

11. We will join your party if you have room for us. ("We are willing.")

12. We will go, room or no room. ("We are determined.")

13. We will meet you at one o'clock. (Promise).

14. You shall all go. (Promise or determination or threat).

15. You shall go this minute. (Determination or promise).

16. My boys shall be prompt. (Determination or promise).

2. In Questions

In asking a question we should use the same auxiliary that is expected in the answer. Shall is naturally the word in the first person. We should not ordinarily ask, "Will I run?" "Will we go?"

In the second person shall is the proper auxiliary to express futurity; as, "Shall you vote for Henry?" Will denotes volition.

Examples for discussion:

1. Shall I speak ? I shall (not).

2. Shall you read? I shall (not). (Simple future).

3. Shall he obey ? He shall (not).

4. Will you listen ? I will (not).

5. Will he obey? He will (not).

6. Shall I help you ?

7. Will he go to-day ?

8. Shall we read "The Merchant of Venice" aloud?

9. Will they care to listen ?

We must take pains not to use will for shall, as has been done in the following sentences:

1. I will be drowned; nobody shall help me.

2. I am obliged to stop playing baseball or I will ruin myself, as I play so much.

3. In Indirect Discourse (See P. 176)

In a dependent clause of indirect discourse, when the subject is the same as that of the principal clause, we use the auxiliary which we should use in direct discourse.

In all other cases of indirect discourse we use the same auxiliary in dependent clauses that we use in independent sentences.

4. In Conditional Clauses

In conditional clauses shall expresses simple futurity; will expresses volition. In the conclusions to the conditions we use the same auxiliary that we use in independent sentences.

1. If I do it, he will not thank me.

2. If you ask him, you will get his honest opinion.

3. If he will come, we shall be glad to see him.

4. If you will join us, we will give you a cordial welcome.

Exercises

264. Point out the meaning of shall and will in the following sentences:

1. Thou shalt not steal.

2. It shall rain.

3. He fears he shall not meet you in London.

4. They know they shall win the prize.

5. Will I eat my dinner ?

6. Into what room shall I go ?

7. There is a rumor that a strong force will come down from Crown Point and we shall be attacked.

8. You shall hear from point to point how we are faring.

9. Rise and go forth, for the law of the Lord is upon thee, and no man can hinder that thou doest. Thou shalt look upon the sun and shalt delight in him; and again thou shalt look and the light of the air shall be as darkness. Thou shalt boast in thy strength and in thine armor that there is none like thee, and again thou shalt cast thy glory from thee and say, "This also is vanity." The king delighteth in thee, and thou shalt stand before the queen in armor of gold and in fine raiment; and the end is near, for the hand of the Lord is upon thee. If the Lord will work great things by thee, what is that to me ? . . .

Go forth and do thy part, for thou art in the hand of the Lord, and some things thou wilt do shall be good, and some things evil. . . . But because there is some good in thee, it shall endure, and thy name also, for generations; and though the evil that besetteth thee shall undo thee, yet at last thy soul shall live. - F. Marion Crawford, "Zoroaster," chap. iii.

265. Write a theme of considerable length on My Ambitions.