http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishGrammarQuestions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here.enCSMOD (Build: 3273.32735)http://www.englishforums.com/English/ShallVsShould/bxwh/post.htm#9102Thu, 25 Sep 2003 15:03:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:9102Raul0http://www.englishforums.com/English/ShallVsShould/bxwh/post.htm#9102http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-9102.xmlConsider this: <br /> <br />A: Should Gray Davis be removed? <br />B: In my opnion, he should, but we have to vote. <br /> <br />[after voting...] <br /> <br />A: What's the result of the vote? Shall Mr. Davis be recalled? <br />B: Fortunately for him, he will not. <br /> <br />Hope this helps! <br /> <br />http://www.englishforums.com/English/ShallVsShould/bxvx/post.htm#9041Thu, 25 Sep 2003 04:33:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:9041Mike in Japan1http://www.englishforums.com/English/ShallVsShould/bxvx/post.htm#9041http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-9041.xmlI agree Whoopi, in some tenses shall virtually means will. Perhaps someone can give a more technical explanation.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ShallVsShould/bxvd/post.htmThu, 25 Sep 2003 02:52:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:9030whoopi2http://www.englishforums.com/English/ShallVsShould/bxvd/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-9030.xmlCan anyone explain to me the difference between the usage of the word "shall" in relation to the word should? <br /> <br />My problem is that I believe the word "shall" carries with it an implied lack of discretion, so that it is not appropriate to use to require the reader to make a choice between two options. <br /> <br />For instance, consider the following question: <br /> <br />"Shall Gray Davis be recalled (removed) from office?" <br /> <br />It seems to me that there is an improper way to phrase the question of whether an individual feels that he SHOULD (or should not) be recalled from office. Indeed, we won't know whether he shall be removed from office until the votes are tabulated. If there is indeed a lack of discretion inherent in the word, then it would seem improper to use this phrase on, say, a ballot. <img src="/emoticons/emotion-1.gif" alt="Smile [:)]" /> If you are to answer "yes" to the question, then you are simply predicting that more voters will vote to have him removed than not. It does not really ask whether the respondent feels that he "should" be removed from office, only whether it is inevitable that he shall be removed. <br /> <br />Keeping all political views out of it, am I wrong in my assessment of the use of the word? <br /> <br />