IV. ''Shall'' as a modal verb

The modal shall denotes:

a) confident expectations with I or we;

• We shall leave New York on September 4.

b) suggestions, offers and invitations, request and advice in the interrogative with I or we:

• Shall we wait for James?

• Shall we dance?

• What shall I answer him, Tom?

c) commands, rules or regulations in legal or quasi-legal documents. Here shall could be replaced by must (=obligation);

• All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress (the US Constitution).

• A player who bids incorrectly shall forfeit fifty points. (rules of a card game)

• The hood shall be of scarlet cloth, with silk lining of the colour of the faculty. (rules for academic dress)

• They shall of course invite their in-laws.

d) promises, threats, determination, warnings or favours granted (used in reference to pets or young children):

• I give you my word: the work shall be done in time.

• We shall succeed where others have failed.

• Good dog, you shall have a bone when we get home.

• You mind my word he shall do what he has promised to.

The future continuous

I. The Formation

The Future Continuous is formed by means of the Future Indefinite of the auxiliary verb ''to be'' and Participle I of the notional verb.

• He will be reading.

• Will he be reading?

• He will not be reading.

II. The Use. The Future Continuous is used:

1) to denote an action which will be going on at a definite moment in the future:

• This time tomorrow I will be flying to Chicago.

• I will still be working when you return.

2) to make predictions about something we believe to be the case now:

• You can’t interrupt her now. She’ll be getting ready to go on stage.

3) to ask politely (formally) about someone’s plans or to refuse an invitation in a tactful way:

• I can't go with you. I will be helping my mum.

• How about joining us at the cottage this Sunday? – Oh, we can’t. We’ll be coming back from Edinburgh on Sunday.

• I’m sorry, I can’t come to your wedding as I’ll be working on that day.

• Will Helen be using the fax machine for long? I have to send a fax.

4) to express future without intention. That means that a predicted event will happen independently of the will or intention of anyone concerned. The action is inevitable:

• I’ll be seeing Mr Kennedy at the court tomorrow – he’s always there on Thursdays – so we can discuss your case briefly then.

5) to denote actions that will become habitual at a point of time in the future:

• In ten years’ time everybody will be communicating by means of the Internet.

The future perfect

I. The Formation

The Future Perfect is formed by means of the auxiliary verb ''to have'' in the Future Indefinite and Participle II of the notional verb.

• He will have spoken.

• Will he have spoken?

• He will not have spoken.

II. The Use

1) The Future Perfect is used to make predictions about actions which we expect to be completed by a particular time in the future. Compare:

• They will have painted the room by Thursday. (Exclusive)

• They will have been married for ten years next Saturday. (Inclusive)

• He’ll have had an operation by May and should be a lot fitter then.

Note: The following time indications can be used: before, by the time, by then, till/until (only in negative sentences)

• He won't have repaired my camera till the end of this week.