What is the difference between may or shall?

Shall is used to give a command or express futurity of something, whereas may is used to ask, grant permission, or indicate a possibility. Shall is used in the future tense, whereas may is used in simple past or present tense. Shall is considered to be more intense, whereas may is comparatively less intense.

What is the difference between may and must?

May shows the speaker is not sure in the present moment: “She may be making a video.” May changes to might to express a possible state in the past: “She might have stayed home.” Finally, must expresses a strong certainty: “She must be working there.” You will hear both words to express the same degree of certainty.

What are the differences between shall and will?

As a general rule, use ‘will’ for affirmative and negative sentences about the future. Use ‘will’ for requests too. If you want to make an offer or suggestion with I/we, use ‘shall’ in the question form. For very formal statements, especially to describe obligations, use ‘shall’.

What is the difference between may not and Shall not?

In legal documents, there is an important distinction between “shall” and “may.” “Shall” is a command; whatever follows after “shall” is mandatory. It is required; it must be done. On the other hand, “may” is discretionary; what comes after “may” is optional; it is at the discretion of the person making the decisions.

Where do we use Shall?

Will and shall are modal verbs. They are used with the base form of the main verb (They will go; I shall ask her). Shall is only used for future time reference with I and we, and is more formal than will.

Shall vs Will legal?

Traditionally, conventions dictate that: ‘Will’ when used in the first person, conveys an obligation, whereas ‘shall’ merely a future intention. Conversely, when used in the second or third person, ‘will’ conveys a future obligation, whilst ‘shall’ imports compulsion and obligation.