Shall has all but disappeared from American English. If an American uses shall it is usually in an effort to sound more formal or to take what the English would call a “softly-softly” approach with someone. Shall survives in the service industry—“Shall I take your coat?”—and in fairy tales like Cinderella: “You shall go to the ball, my dear.” Shall denotes obligation and necessity rather than choice; it’s the “have to” to will’s “want to.” In everyday speech, shall strikes Americans as having what H. L. Mencken called a “pansy cast.” Indeed, for the benefit of anyone who isn’t clear on the distinction (you’re in good company), here’s the rule: For simple futurity, use shall after I or we, but will after everything else: I shall get help. We shall get help. (Whether we like it or not, help is coming.) They will get help. (No need to do anything; help is coming.) To express determination or command, use will after I or we but shall after everything else: I will get help.
