Will, shall, be going to, and want to: The Modals and Semi-modals of Prediction and Volition in Modern English

This paper examines the meanings of the modals will and shall, and of the semi-modals be going to and want to, in contemporary English. The findings indicate that the status of will as the primary exponent of epistemic ‘prediction ’ is under challenge from be going to (a change in which ‘colloquialization ’ is playing a role) and that its position as the main exponent of root ‘volition ’ is under threat from want to (a development in which American English leads the way). Shall is moribund, though less spectacularly so in British English than in the other two varieties, and less so in writing than speech