Examine the agreement in the use of shall and will in the following questions and answers:

QUESTIONS.ANSWERS.
Shall I miss the car?You will miss it.
Shall you be there?I think I shall (probability).
Will he do it?I think he will (assertion).
Shall your son obey the teacher?He shall (determination).
Will you promise to come?We will come (promise).

67. Shall and Will in Dependent Clauses. In dependent clauses which are introduced by that, expressed or understood, the auxiliary should be used which would be proper if the dependent clause were a principal clause. The sentence, They assure us that they shall come, is wrong. The direct assurance would be, We will come. The auxiliary, then, in a principal clause would be will. Will should, therefore, be the auxiliary in the dependent construction, and the sentence should read, They assure us that they will come. Further examples:

I suppose we shall have to pay.
He thinks that you will be able to do it.
He has decided that John shall replace the book.

In all dependent clauses expressing a condition or contingency use shall with all subjects. Examples;

If he shall go to Europe, it will be his tenth trip abroad.
If you shall go away, who will run the farm?
If I shall die, I shall die as an honest man.

Exercise 45

Justify the correct use of shall and will in the following sentences:

  1. I will go if you wish.
  2. I shall probably go if you wish.
  3. I will have it in spite of all you can do.
  4. We shall return by way of Dover.
  5. We will fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.
  6. I feel that I shall not live long.
  7. We think we shall come to-morrow.
  8. I promise you, the money shall be raised.
  9. You will then go to Philadelphia.
  10. You shall never hear from me again.
  11. He will surely come to-morrow.
  12. How shall you answer him?
  13. I think I shall ride.
  14. He is sure they will come.
  15. He is sure that I will come.
  16. Shall you be there?
  17. Will he who fails be allowed to have a reexamination?
  18. Will you be there?
  19. Will all be there?
  20. He says he shall be there.
  21. He has promised that he will be there.
  22. I fear that he will fail to pass.
  23. We think she will soon be well.
  24. We are determined that they shall pay.
  25. We expect that they will bring their books.
  26. I doubt that he will pay.
  27. We have promised that we will do it.
  28. If he shall ask, shall I refer him to you?

Exercise 46