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Difference between 'should" and "shall"



 
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Article THE | gender discrimination vs. sexual discrimination
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Difference between 'should" and "shall" #1 (permalink) Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:34 am   Difference between 'should" and "shall"
 

Good Evening Teachers,

Please tell me the difference between these two sentences:
What slight difference has been indicated by using "shall"and"should" here.Which question is more appropriate here to ask?

1)Shall we start the interview?
2)Should we start the Interview?

Please provide me a few examples also.

I would appreciate your input.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Sonia*
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Joined: 19 Aug 2009
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Difference between 'should" and "shall" #2 (permalink) Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:50 am   Difference between 'should" and "shall"
 

hello Sonia,

albeit I´m no teacher I´d like to put my tuppence on this issue.

To me the first question more indicates the curiostity whether to start with "the interview" right the moment the questions was asked, whereat your 2nd example shows more doubts whether to start it at all or who might start.
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Difference between 'should" and "shall" #3 (permalink) Fri Sep 25, 2009 13:15 pm   Difference between 'should" and "shall"
 

Hi Sonia,

This is the way I would look at the difference:

- Shall we start the interview?
This sentence would be used to make a very firm suggestion. It asks for and expects agreement with the suggestion that we start the interview. Without any further context, I would interpret the sentence to mean that the speaker feels sure that the right time to start the interview is now, and the speaker does not expect any disagreement. The meaning is basically the same as this:
"Let's start the interview (now)."

- Should we start the interview?
This might be used similarly, but it is more of a real question than the first sentence. The speaker is either not sure whether or not it is appropriate to start the interview, or the speaker is not as sure that others will agree with the idea of starting the interview now.
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Difference between 'should" and "shall" #4 (permalink) Fri Sep 25, 2009 13:15 pm   Difference between 'should" and "shall"
 

Just to add a few things.
Using 'shall', you somehow anticipate the answer 'yes'. With 'should' you are less certain that your offer/suggestion will be accepted.
'Should' could also be used when talking to oneself.

Sorry, it looks I came in second. :)
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Difference between 'should" and "shall" #5 (permalink) Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:48 am   Difference between 'should" and "shall"
 

Thanks a Million to all the ESL experts.It makes sense to me.
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 211

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