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WILL/SHALL IN REQUESTS, OFFERS, ETC.

368

✪

Will/’ll

is often used to make offers of future action. In such cases the present

simple is not used:

Oh, that looks heavy. I

’ll carry it for you.

(That looks heavy. I carry it for you.)

Shall

is frequently used to make first person suggestions regarding future actions:

Shall I close the door?

Shall we go out for a meal with them for their anniversary?

Note that will is becoming more frequent in such cases.

Û

388 Shall

Û

408–423 Speech acts

THE PRESENT SIMPLE

369

References to fixed events in the future (e.g. schedules, timetables and firm

arrangements) are often made using the present simple:

The = sign indicates an utterance which is cut short

[two people exchanging information about their respective travel

arrangements]

A: So you’re going on the …? 

B: Twentieth. On the twentieth. And then I come back=

A: November the twelfth. 

B: Yeah. Cos I leave on the eleventh but I do come overnight so I should be

back here on the twelfth.