“Shall you be at the pier by three, Abner?” Abner replies, “I certainly shall.” “Will you kindly bring my lunch with you? the cook has it ready.” “I will, with great pleasure.”
The rule holds when applied to indirect discourse. Thus: “Abner’s aunt asked him whether he should be at the pier by three. Abner replied that he should. Then she wanted to know if he would kindly bring her lunch along; Abner promised that he would.”
If a question is put in the first person, shall often asks for instructions. “Shall I go?” But if mere information is asked, shall is still the form: “Shall I be required to do all this?” “Yes, I fear you will.” Briefly, then, for a question in the first person always use shall.
Oral Exercise.—Where blanks appear in the following sentences insert the right auxiliary. Correct any misuse of auxiliaries.
1. Sometimes an Irishman, sometimes a Frenchman, is credited with this remark: “I will be drowned; nobody shall help me.”
2. I —— be delighted to see you with us.
3. I —— be obliged if you —— lend me your pencil.
4. The director thinks he —— be able to speak well of that student, if the boy —— need a good word.
5. —— you be content if you get to college?