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ladyandthetramp
Joined: 21 Nov 2003
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 Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| Quote: |
| and not shall, in written English? |
Just curious. I rarely use the word 'shall' except when asking someone, "What shall we do tomorrow?" Do any other Americans use it on a regular basis? |
I never use it, unless I want to sound poetic.
Rather than "What shall we do tomorrow" we say "What should we do tomorrow" in my hood. |
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EFLtrainer
Joined: 04 May 2005
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Qinella wrote: |
This web site differentiates them thusly:
Future Simple
Instant decision (=when we decide
to do something at the time of speaking).
I will have a cup of coffee. |
But we could just as easily use:
I am going to have a cup of coffee.
Waiter: What will you have, sir?
I will have a cup of coffee.
I am going to have a cup of coffee.
The second might be more likely between two customers, but both are legit. (Context is everthing...)
BUT,
Who is going to do the shopping? (Asking for volunteer.)
I will.
Who is going to do the shopping? (Confirming previous decision.)
I'm going to.
| Qinella wrote: |
I will operate my patient again.
I will have a cup of coffee. |
Again, going to also is fine here:
I am going to operate (on) my patient again.
I am going to have a cup of coffee.
| Qinella wrote: |
Prediction(= what we think will happen).
He will travel to Ireland.
He will hit the ball. |
And, yet again, going to works. In fact, in making a suppostion, I'd probably be more likely to use going to. Will seems very definite in the above sentences. Going to gives me more of an impression of guessing.
He is going to travel to Ireland.
He is going to hit the ball.
That plane is going to crash!
I'm sure it's going to rain any minute/tomorrow.
| Qinella wrote: |
To be + going to + verb
Intention (=the speaker has already decided before).
I am going to have a cup of coffee.
I am going to operate my patient. |
Ditto.
| Qinella wrote: |
Prediction based on a present situation
(=what we can see is going to happen).
He is going to travel to Ireland.
He is going to kick the ball. |
Ditto.
| Qinella wrote: |
| You really need to see the pictures that go with the examples to understand the difference. |
Ah, this I am sure of! The problem with this thread is which you use is not really dependent on function because the two are used so interchangeably. The determining factor will be the context/co-text/collocation of the sentences because we tend to mirror what we are asked.
Ex.:
What will you do tomorrow?
I'll go shopping.
What are you going to do tomorrow?
I'm going to go shopping.
It's cloudy. Do you think it's going to rain?
Yes, I think it is (going to rain.)
It's cloudy. Do you think it will rain?
Yes, I think it will (rain.)
But even without the questions, we can just as easily use either one. Personally, I *think* I would be more likely to use will for something further in the future.
It's going to rain (soon/in a few minutes/later).
It will rain (tonight/tomorrow/Saturday.)
As for shall, it's not used much by most Americans as it comes off stuffy and formal, but seems to be fairly common still in England, etc. I could be wrong about that. |
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zappadelta
Joined: 31 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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| DO you ever say "What wil you do tomorrow?"? I never say that. I always say "What are you gonna do tomorrow?" |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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Koreans often use 'will' inappropriately to express prior plans. It's really hard to teach because they think it's the simple future - and sometimes it is - but the future is not simple to express in English.
Another reason Koreans often sound awkward when they use 'will' is that they stress the word where it shouldn't be stressed.
'will' = 1) instant/spontaneous decisions (also expressing 'willingness')
2) simple predictions not based on immediate evidence
Emphatic 'will' = to express strong determination or volition, e.g. "I will get that work finished tonight".
So if you put the wrong stress on 'will' it changes the meaning totally.
As for 'shall', the distinction between 'shall' and 'will' is much more blurred than it used to be on both sides of the Atlantic, but it still exists and is still important in some situations. I've never tried teaching it though, because it's complicated and it's rare to get a really advanced classes.
I wonder if they get to teach a whole other level of English in European countries or not? |
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