COMMUNICATION: "SHALL" AND "WILL" IN REQUESTS, OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS
Illustrative Situations
1. You see an old lady at the railway station. She's carrying a heavy suitcase but you can see it is much too heavy for her. You say to her: "Shall I carry that bag for you?"
Questions: What is the old lady doing? Is it a light suitcase? What do you say to her?
2. Susan and her husband are on the motorway. He is driving. He is very tired. Susan says: "Shall I drive?" "Please, do", her husband answers.
Questions: Who is driving the car? What does Susan say? What does her husband answer?
3. Julia and her boyfriend are at the cinema now. "Shall I get you some chocolates?" he asks. "Thank you very much. That's very nice of you", is Julia's answer.
Questions: Where are Julia and her boyfriend? What does Julia's boyfriend ask her? What does she answer?
4. Deborah feels terrible this morning. "Shall I bring you some tea now?" her daughter asked her a few seconds ago. "No, bring me an aspirin instead", Deborah told her.
Questions: How does Deborah feel this morning? What exactly did her daughter ask her? What did Deborah answer?
5. It is lunch time and two students want to eat somewhere in town. One of them has an idea. He wants to know if the other student thinks it is a good one. He says: "Shall we have a sandwich and some beer in a pub?" "All right", his friend agrees.
Questions: What do the students want to do? Where does one of them want to eat? How does he find out if the other student thinks this is a good idea? What does his friend say?
6. It is Saturday evening and Tony and Susan want to go out somewhere. Neither of them knows where, but then Tony has an idea. He says: "I know. Shall we go to a concert?" "Good idea", Susan answers.
Questions: What do Tony and Susan want to do? What does Tony suggest? What are his exact words? Does Susan like the idea?
7. Susan wrote a letter and asked Tom to post it only a second ago. She said: "Will you post this for me, Tom? It must catch the next post".
Peter is going out for a walk. "I'll post it for you. I'm going out for a walk anyway," he says.
Questions: What did Susan ask Tom to do? What were her exact words? What does Peter say?
8. Jane wants to type some documents but she hat no typewriter. She asks Helen: "Will you please lend me your typewriter?" "Certainly", Helen answers.
Questions: What does Jane want to do? Why can't she type the documents? What does she ask Helen? What are her exact words? What is Helen's answer?
9. It's rather hot in here.
Shall I open the window?
Please, do.
Is that better?
Yes, thank you.
10. What are you going to do tomorrow evening?
I'll probably stay at home and learn some English.
Shall we go out instead?
No, thank you.
11. Will you be home tomorrow evening?
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Yes, why?
Will you help me with my article? Certainly. Come at any time after 5.
12. I'm thirsty.
Will you have a cup of tea?
No, thank you.
Then, perhaps, you'll have some beer.
Yes, please.
Practice
/. Offer your services. Use the verb "shall". e.g. You are going to the classroom and so is the teacher, but
she has a lot of books in her hands. You say: "Shall I carry
the books for you?"
1. You and your friend are going out of the house. The radio in your friend's room is still on. He is outside; you're not. What do you say? 2. Your teacher is trying to talk but a lot ot noise is coming from the street and the window is open. You are next to it. What do you say? 3. Your friend cannot do a problem. You already know the answer. 4. The train is going to leave in a few minutes. Robert is going to get himself a magazine. He sees his girlfriend has nothing to read. What does he say? 5. Two men are trying to push a car. They are finding it very difficult. What do you say? 6. Your friend is going to give a party, but he hasn't got many good records. What do you say?
//. Ask your friend lor advice. Begin your sentence with "Shall I?" or "What shall I?" "Where shall I"?
e.g. It's very hot in the room. The window is shut. You ask your
friend: "Shall I open the window?"
1. You're going out. It's possible that it will rain and you're not sure whether to take an umbrella or not. Ask your friend for advice. 2. It's Ann's birthday soon and you don't know what to give her. Ask your friend for advice. What...? 3. You've just tried on a jacket in a shop. You are not sure whether to buy it or not. Ask your friend for advice. 4. You are furnishing your new flat. You don't know where to put the piano. You ask your son for advice. Where...?
5. Your friend wants you to phone him/her later. You don't know what time to phone Ask him/her. What time...?
///. Read the situation Suggest an idea.
e.g. You and some other people are sitting inside on a rainy day.
You are bored. Suddenly you see a pack of cards. You say:
"Shall we play cards?"
1. You and your friend are hungry. There is a Greek restaurant nearby. You think it is a good restaurant. 2. You and your friend have to get somewhere in Moscow. Yoy know it is quickest by Underground. 3. Robert and his girl-friend want to go out. He knows there is a good film at the cinema. What does he say? 4. You and your friend are keen on tennis. You are both free at the moment. You say:...? 5. You and your friend are going on a picnic tomorrow. You don't know when you are going to start. You ask' When...?
6. Your friend and you are at a restaurant You are looking at the
menu.and ask: What...? 7. Your friend and you are going to the cinema. You haven 't decide where to meet. You say Where?
IV. Make requests with "Will":
e.g. You are sitting at the breakfast table and want the salt and pepper. You ask your neighbour: "Will you pass me the salt and pepper, please?"
1. You are busy and can't answer the phone. You ask your friend:...? 2. The coffee is practically cold. You ask the waiter:...? 3. You want to light a cigarette but you have no lighter You ask your colleague:...? 4. You want to type some documents but you have no typewriter. You ask your friend:...? 5. You are short of money. You ask your cousin:..? 6. You are in bed with the flue. You want to listen to the 9 o'clock news. You ask your daughter:...?
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V. Offer your services in response to the following statements. Your friend will accept or refuse the offer politely.
Possible replies to offers: . .; Yes; Yes, please; Do, please; That's very kind of you; No, thank you; It's all right, e.g. Helen doesn't know about the meeting.
Shall I tell her?
Do, please.
1. I have a terrible headache. 2. The text is too difficult. 3. I am thirsty. 4. My mother is coming at 6 o'clock but I have an appointment at that time. 5. I can't do this work alone. 6. I'd like something to read on the train. 7. I am very tired. 8. I haven't got this dictionary. 9. Jack doesn't know about the picnic.
VI. Suggest to your friend:
going to the movies, spending the weekend in the country, playing a game of tennis, having a swim, watching the boxing match on television. Your friend will accept or refuse your suggestion.
Possible replies to suggestions: OK; Yes; All right; Good idea; I'm afraid (sorry) I can't, e.g. Shall we play cards? Good idea.
VII. Make requests and respond appropriately in the following situations:
1. Boss to his secretary: type these letters, photo-copy those documents, send this parcel, work overtime, answer the phone
Possible replies to requests: OK; Yes; Certainly; I'll try; I'm afraid (sorry) I can't, e.g. Will you please post this letter?. .
2. Friend to friend:
a) Your friend is going on holiday
send me a card, write to me, look after my house, look after my garden
b) You need your friend's help in a number of ways translate this text for me, repair my typewriter, post the parcel,
lend some money, carry my suitcase, answer the phone
