233. The future tense is a verb-phrase consisting of the auxiliary verb shall or will followed by the infinitive without to ([§ 29]).
The following table shows the form of the future for each of the three persons (1) in assertions and (2) in questions:—
| Assertions (Declarative) | |
|---|---|
| SINGULAR | PLURAL |
| 1. I shall fall. | 1. We shall fall. |
| 2. Thou wilt fall. | 2. You will fall. |
| 3. He will fall. | 3. They will fall. |
| Questions (Interrogative) | |
| SINGULAR | PLURAL |
| 1. Shall I fall? | 1. Shall we fall? |
| 2. Shalt thou fall? | 2. Shall you fall? |
| 3. Will he fall? | 3. Will they fall? |
234. Common errors are the use of will for shall (1) in the first person in assertions and questions, and (2) in the second person in questions.
In the following sentences the first person of the future tense is correctly formed:—
| I shall [NOT will] drown. | Shall [NOT will] I drown? |
| I shall [NOT will] fail. | Shall [NOT will] I fail? |
| We shall [NOT will] sink. | Shall [NOT will] we sink? |
The verb-phrases with shall express merely the action of the verb in future time. They do not indicate any willingness or desire on the part of the subject.
Contrast the following sentences, in which I will or we will is used:—
- I will go with you.
- I will give you what you ask.
- I will not endure it.
- We will allow you to enter.
- We will have the truth.
Here the verb-phrases with will do not (as in the previous examples of I shall) express the action of the verb in future time. They express the present willingness or desire or determination of the speaker to do something in the future.