恳求大家用“shall”来抵御“will”的侵略


Will“和“shall“有什么区别呢?

其实,形容未来事情的时候,“shall”(将要、要)和“will”是同一个意思,含义上没什么区别。但是错误的使用方法让我实在看不过眼。为了满足大部分读者的实际需要以及Angry Editor的精神洁癖,“shall”最好限于第一人称 (单数和复数)。

“He/she/they/you/it shall…”的用法在大部分母语为英语的人眼中是错误的,应该写:“He/she/they/you/it will…”。

因为“will”可以随便用来配第一、二、三人称,所以最“保险”的方法是:不要用“shall”。

遗憾的是,很多人(抱括母语为英语的人)采用这个方法。结果,目前来讲,“shall”正在被“will”逐渐淘汰出局。Angry Editor认为“shall”用对时,是个很好听的单词。因此,我恳求大家用“shall”来抵御“will”的侵略。

所以,“I/we will…”不如“I/we shall”。

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  1. #1 by Abrat on 2010/02/08 - 9:31 pm

    我是一名高三学生。今天碰巧做了许多语法题,涉及到shall的很多用法,比如表示警告、允诺、命令、法律规定等等,快要把我弄晕了。既然Angry Editor号召我们用shall来抵御will的侵略,希望AE也划定一下shall的地盘到底有哪些?谢谢。

  2. #2 by Zheng Yue on 2010/02/09 - 4:44 am

    “Shall” is often used to express determination; and it is correct to be used for a second- or third-person construction.

  3. #3 by Angry Editor on 2010/02/14 - 4:48 pm

    Zheng Yue, you are quite right. But in plain future tense, I think “shall” sounds wrong – that is what my post was about. Thanks!

    Abrat, some examples are on their way. To be honest, I have had a rethink on the matter, and need some time to deal with this…

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