shall

past should · alternative obsolete shal

1. auxiliarydefectivemodalno past participleno present participleUsed before a verb to indicate the simple future tense in the first person singular or plural.

   I hope that we shall win the game.

   3 more examples

   I shall sing in the choir tomorrow.

   "Then, having used up the powers of the Golden Cap, I shall give it to the King of the Monkeys, that he and his band may thereafter be free for evermore."

   1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC

   A woman shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage for being elected to or sitting or voting as a Member of the Commons House of Parliament.

   1918, Parliament of the United Kingdom, “Section 20(3)”, in Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918ᵂⁱᵏⁱˢᵒᵘʳᶜᵉ, page 1

2. auxiliarydefectivemodalno past participleno present participleUsed similarly to indicate determination or obligation in the second and third persons singular or plural.

   (obligation): Citizens shall provide proof of identity.

   5 more examples

   (determination): You shall go to the ball!; He shall be given a fair trial.

   (obligation): The renter shall be responsible for maintenance of the vehicle.

   Things haven't turned out as I intended they should, but I still intend that you shall take over the business.

   And the gates of it ſhall not bee ſhut at all by day: foꝛ there ſhall bee no night there.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 21:25, column 1

   A woman shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage for being elected to or sitting or voting as a Member of the Commons House of Parliament.

   1918, Parliament of the United Kingdom, “Section 1”, in Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918ᵂⁱᵏⁱˢᵒᵘʳᶜᵉ, page 1

3. auxiliarydefectivemodalno past participleno present participleUsed in questions with the first person singular or plural to suggest a possible future action.

   Shall we go out later?

   4 more examples

   What shall I do? Shall I give you a hand?

   I'll hold that for you, shall I?

   Let us examine that, shall we? - Yeah let's.

   Shall we see you before you set out?

4. auxiliarydefectivemodalno past participleno present participleobsoleteTo owe.

   He should þe Princess his Life, for she had deliver'd him from þe Poison deadly.

   1 more example

   I thee shall a hundred golden coins; th'amount thou shalt the Queen is much higher.