密歇根新闻广播 "I shall"and"I will"的区别

 

There's a rule that makes a clear distinction between "I shall" and "I will." However, we as speakers don't seem to respect that line.

Do you know where that line is? Actually, here's a better question: Did you know this rule existed?

We found out from a fourth grader.

Her teacher told her that when talking about the future, she should say "I shall" and "we shall," but "he/she/it will," "they will," and "you will."

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, this rule goes back to the 17th century and is credited to English mathematician¹ John Wallis. It makes a distinction between the first person and the second and third persons when expressing future tense.

Under the rule, you'd say "I shall" and "we shall," but use "will" with he, she, it and they. If you're talking about an obligation though, as in something you need to do or have to do, you switch it around--"I will" or "we will," and then "shall" for he, she, it and they.

If this rule doesn't make your grammar priority list, don't worry. People in the 17th century didn't really follow it either.

Merriam-Webster's offers this conclusion:

"The traditional rules about ‘shall' and ‘will' do not appear to have described real usage of these words very precisely² at any time, although there is no question that they do describe the usage of some people some of the time, and that they are more applicable in England than elsewhere."

Attorneys may be quick to point out that there is an important distinction in the law, where it's necessary to use "shall" to express obligation. That's historically true. However, Garner³'s Dictionary of Legal Usage says this distinction has little utility.

Garner writes, "‘shall' purportedly⁴ imposes a duty," but he sees it declining in legal use, because people see that the ambiguity⁵ is tricky⁶. He says there's no reason to hold on to "shall" in this context.

Have you recently stumbled upon a grammar rule you never knew existed? Tell us at [email protected] or [email protected]

1 mathematician   

n.数学家

参考例句：

• The man with his back to the camera is a mathematician.背对着照相机的人是位数学家。
• The mathematician analyzed his figures again.这位数学家再次分析研究了他的这些数字。

2 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

3 garner   

v.收藏；取得

参考例句：

• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals.他的提议得到了广泛的支持。
• Squirrels garner nuts for the winter.松鼠为过冬储存松果。

4 purportedly   

adv.据称

参考例句：

• This is purportedly the oldest tree in the world. 据称这是世界上最古老的一棵树。 来自互联网
• Mayor Oh Se-Hoon launched the campaign last year, purportedly to improve efficiency. 据悉，首尔市市长吴世勋于去年提出了这项旨在提高工作效率的计划。 来自互联网

5 ambiguity   

n.模棱两可；意义不明确

参考例句：

• The telegram was misunderstood because of its ambiguity.由于电文意义不明确而造成了误解。
• Her answer was above all ambiguity.她的回答毫不含糊。

6 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。