Well, they're opposite in American and British English. So lately I'm a bit confused. But to me, "will" indicates certainty and "shall" is about obligation (probably not the right word); it's closely related to "should." It's also used to replace "will" in formal language.
In British English, as I said, it's the opposite and "will" is used where I'd use "shall" or "should." So for example, if mmaestro says "Will we have pancakes for breakfast?" I'm likely to answer, "Err, I don't know if we *will*, would you like to?"
Unfortunately for me at work, I've picked up far more Britishisms than he's picked up Americanisms, though.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-06-01 04:10 am (UTC)In British English, as I said, it's the opposite and "will" is used where I'd use "shall" or "should." So for example, if
Unfortunately for me at work, I've picked up far more Britishisms than he's picked up Americanisms, though.