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Declaratives with ’ll

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Declaratives with ’ll are commonly used in offers to do something. A tag with

shall I/will I

may accompany the offer:

[in a coffee bar, speaker B is about to go to the counter to buy drinks]

A: 

I’ll come and give you a hand, shall I?

B: Yeah.

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Speech acts | 699

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A: Sorry, what was the number? 

B: You don’t know the number? 

I’ll check it now for you

. 

A: Oh right. Thanks.

✪

Note the use of I’ll check it now for you, not I check it now for you. The present

simple form is not used to offer to do something.

The contraction I’ll/we’ll is different from I will/we will or I shall/we shall. The

full forms with will and shall are not normally used to make offers. They usually

express a declaration or decision that the speaker has decided or is determined or

is promising to do something, and are more common in rather formal contexts:

I fear I am too old for you, but believe me

I will take more care of you than

would many a man of your own age. 

I will protect and cherish you with all my

strength – 

I will indeed!

I shall introduce her, of course, very particularly to my brother and sister when

they come to us. 

I am sure they will like her extremely.

Offers involving a third party may be made using ’ll (or the full form will):

[speaker B is carrying a heavy suitcase]

A: 

Nick’ll carry that for you.

B: Oh thanks.