/ʃəl/, /ʃ(ə)/, /ʃæl/
OriginFrom Middle English schal (infinitive schulen), from Old English sċeal (infinitive sċulan (“should, must”)), from Proto-West Germanic *skulan, from Proto-Germanic *skal (infinitive *skulaną), from Proto-Indo-European *skel- (“to owe, be under obligation”).
Cognate with Scots sall, sal (“shall”), North Frisian skal, schal, Saterland Frisian skäl, schäl, schal (infinitive skälle, schälle), West Frisian sil (infinitive sille (“shall”)), Dutch zal (infinitive zullen (“shall”)), Low German schall (infinitive schölen (“shall”)), German soll (infinitive sollen (“ought to”)), Danish skal (infinitive skulle (“shall”)), Icelandic skal (infinitive skulu (“shall”)), Afrikaans sal, Swedish skall (“shall”) (infinitive skola).
- auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participleUsed before a verb to indicate the simple future tense in the first person singular or plural.
“I shall sing in the choir tomorrow.”
“I hope that we shall win the game.”
“"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."”
- auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participleUsed similarly to indicate determination or obligation in the second and third persons singular or plural.
“(determination): You shall go to the ball!; He shall be given a fair trial.”
“(obligation): Citizens shall provide proof of identity.”
“(obligation): The renter shall be responsible for maintenance of the vehicle.”
- auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participleUsed in questions with the first person singular or plural to suggest a possible future action.
“What shall I do? Shall I give you a hand?”
“Shall we go out later?”
“I'll hold that for you, shall I?”
- auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participleTo owe.
“I thee shall a hundred golden coins; th'amount thou shalt the Queen is much higher.”
“He should þe Princess his Life, for she had deliver'd him from þe Poison deadly.”
Formsshall(present, singular, third-person) · should(past) · shal(alternative, obsolete)