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Yes "I shall" is a prediction, "I will" is an intention. The reverse holds for 2nd and 3rd person though!

We crossed, jazzy - your link says pretty much the same thing. I do use "shall", though.

I tend to use 'shall' in preference to 'will' particularly with 'we',
'we shall' sounds better to me than 'we will' - but don't ask me
why!

Anyway, I must have read something such as this article and
it has obviously stuck in my memory - good to know that I still
have one! Thanks Jazzy!

Pigale, I see now what you were saying in your example before - and I misunderstood.
Yes, in that context, you were perfectly correct!
But usually , "shall" is used for first persons singular and plural ; and "will" for second and third persons.

Chris, whilst you are here......
Going back to what we were discussing yesterday about books and films......
Did you ever see the film made from the book "The Life Of Pi"?
I am wondering what ending the film went with?
Remember the options in the book - whether the story told by Pi about "Richard Parker" was true...or whether Pi in fact indulged in cannibalism and ate his mother?
I am happy to remain "up in the air" on this.....but just wondered how the film ended?

Elle, yes, I know, and the particular example I referred to remains
the exception.

Interestingly, this is a subtle distinction that we cannot make in
French, not having equivalents to Shall and Will, but just one
verb ending to indicate the future tense. We have to revert to
punctuation when writing, or tone of voice when speaking.


Apart from answering grammar questions, what are you up to
this afternoon?

Hi elle
I felt cheated by the end of the book (Life of Pi), so didn't follow up by watching the film.
There have been some other books I've read in the last couple of years that I felt wasted my time. Kate Atkinson's "A god in ruins" (I'd liked all her other ones) and Kazuo Ishiguro's "The buried giant" "cheated me" in the same way

...and don't get me started on "The luminaries"!

Hello, Pigale!
Yes, I think the two examples I gave earlier - and Chris endorsed - about "drowning," illustrate the point nicely!
I like delving into grammar questions!
It is always good to learn new things, too!
I am not "up to" much today.......waiting on my husband to get organised, so we can go for walk with the dog.....but not much else!
Our prophesied rain did not arrive!
What are you doing?

Hi, Chris!
I know we don't agree about these "up in air" endings!
I remember you didn't like "Engleby" for that very reason!
Whereas I was quite happy to have the undecided /optional? ending!
Although, with Engleby, I think I went with "he didn't"!
But what did you yourself think about "Pi" ?
It is a strange coincidence ......that is two books we have both read that had this either/or scenario!
( I am afraid that I don' t know the other books you have mentioned , so cannot comment!)

Hello, Elle!
I think I shall/will keep the daily Oxford Dictionary tweets to myself in future!
Seems to have caused quite a debate,
But, I will/shall go back and read what they say on "in to" and "into".
That interests me.
Yes, Elle, we had to take a detour.
A slightly nervy one.
Miss O drives at the same hectic rate along twisty country lanes as she does about town!
This is from memory, but I think part of the dictionary article today is whether it is "wreak havoc" or "wreck havoc"?
I am in the "wreak" camp!