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Will Vs Would & Shall Vs Should: What’s The Difference?

Grammar

March 11, 2023

Will Vs Would & Shall Vs Should What’s The Difference

Hello from English with Janet!

Students in our 1-to-1 English-speaking course often ask us, “What’s the difference between will and would?” “When to use shall and should?”

These questions make sense because “will” , “would” , “shall” , and “should” are some of the most confusing verbs in English. All four are modal verbs, and we use them to discuss things such as suggestion, obligation, possibility, and permission.

It’s quite common for English as a second language learners to get confused between these words as they’re often used in very similar situations. That said, there’s a fine line between correct and incorrect usage.

This guide shares a cheat sheet to help you master will, would, shall and should. By the time you finish reading this post, you will (or is it would???) have a clear idea of when to use which (Pun intended!)

When to use “will? ”

“Will” is often used to discuss future events or actions you believe will happen. We use will to express our predictions of what will happen in the future. Here are a few examples:

It will be sunny tomorrow.
Shalini will finish school in May.
Chennai Super Kings will win the IPL trophy next year if Dhoni leads the team.

Besides predicting what will happen in the future, you can also use will to make an offer or promise, express determination or willingness and give commands. Here are a few examples to help you understand it better:

Will you come to my party? (offer)
I will help you clean up after the party. (promise)
Don’t worry; I will help you set up the party. (willingness)
You will do as I say. (command)

When to use “would? ”

We use “would” when we want to discuss imaginary or hypothetical situations. It can also be used to express a possibility or condition. The main difference between “will” and “would” is that the former describes events that are most certain to happen, while the latter is used for events that are not certain.

Remember, use “will” when something will most definitely happen and “would” to describe situations that are not likely to happen.

Here are a few examples using “would” :

I would love to go on an Antarctic cruise someday.
If I were rich, I would buy a private jet.
She would be a great teacher if only she had more patience.

“Would” is also used to express suggestions or make requests in polite situations. For example,

Would you like a cup of coffee?
Would you mind turning off the air conditioner?
I would suggest you drive instead of taking the bus.

Snapshot of the Differences between “Will” and “Would”

Will	Would
To talk about events that are likely to happen	To discuss hypothetical situations, to express politeness, and to offer suggestions.
“Will” is always used in the present tense.	“Would” takes the past tense.
Ex: I will help you study for the exam. (Promise)	Ex: If I had more time, I would have prepared for the exam better. (Hypothetical)
Ex: As per the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow. (Likely event)	Ex: If it rained tomorrow, we would not have school. (Imaginary situation)
Ex: You will come to school tomorrow. (Command)	Ex: Would you like to go on a date with me? (Polite request)

When to use “shall? ”

Use “shall” when discussing the future, making offers, or asking for advice. Additionally, you can also use it to discuss obligations or formal statements. Here are a few examples:

We shall leave home at 6 p.m. (Future event)
What shall I wear to the party? (Asking for advice)
Shall we go to the cinema this weekend? (Suggestion)
I shall help you prepare for your exam. (Offer)

Besides these expressions, you can also use “shall” for emphasis, determination, or to express a threat or promise.

I shall finish this assignment by the end of the day. (Determination)
I shall keep my promise to you. (Promise)
You shall not go to the party unless you help me clean up. (Threat)

When to use “should? ”

Use “should” to make recommendations, offer advice, and express obligations or duties. Generally, we use “should” to discuss what is preferred or expected. It’s often used to suggest a course of action or express opinions. Here are a few examples:

You should start preparing for the finals. (Advice)
He should apologize for his mistake. (Obligation)
You should be careful when driving at night. (Recommendation)
The intern should spend more time helping his teammates. (Expectation)

Snapshot of the Differences between “Shall” and “Should”

Shall	Should
“Shall” is primarily used to express an intention or promise.	“Should” expresses a suggestion, advice, or recommendation.
It is primarily used in the future tense.	While it is used in the future tense, it also works for past obligations.
It is common in formal or legal language.	Should is more common in everyday speech and writing.
Ex: I shall meet you after work. (Future tense)	Ex: You should go on holiday to take a break from work. (Recommendation)
Ex: The judge ruled that the criminal shall be sentenced to three months in prison. (Command)	Ex: The report should be completed by the end of this week. (Expectation)
Ex: The tenant shall be responsible for any damage to the property. (Obligation)	Ex: He should have called me by now. (Past Obligation)

Grammar Tips:

“Should” is often used to indicate a behaviour or action. However, it’s not as strong as “shall” for issuing commands.
Both “shall” and “should” can be used in conditional clauses to indicate a hypothetical situation. Here are a few examples:
- If I were you, I should report to work before 9 a.m. (Hypothetical advice)
- If I win the lottery, I shall go on a world tour. (Hypothetical future)
In general, “shall” is more common in the Queen’s English (British English), while “should” is more common in “American English. ”
Both “shall” and “should” can be used for polite offers or requests. Here are a few examples:
- Should you need any help, please let me know. (Polite request)
- Shall I help you move? (Polite offer)

Wrapping Up:

Modal verbs (auxiliary verbs) like “will, would, shall and should” can be confusing, especially when used in daily conversations. The easiest way to learn to speak English fluently is to sign up for one of our conversational English fluency lessons. With one-on-one instruction and customized lesson plans, we’ll help you become confident in no time.