Shall

Shall is a modal verb that has a similar meaning to "will". It's mainly used in the British English.

Uses

You may use "shall" in the context of:

• a voluntary offer of help ("Shall I do the washing up?")
• an unavoidable and undesired course of action (Oh dear, the car won't start. I suppose I shall have to take the bus.")
• asking opinions ("Shall I wear this dress?"),
• a formal commitment ("We shall cut taxes to stimulate the economy")
• as a threat or warning ("If you don't stop pinching Mary I shall tell your mother")
• even in a prediction ("I wonder what I shall be when I grow up?)

Never in a deduction, though ("That will be my mother calling to see if I have left yet.").

American English would eliminate the "shall" in the above examples and use "Can I do the dishes for you?," "I'll have to take the bus," and "will" in the other examples, as well.