What does it mean and where would I use it?
3 Answers
If you are in a situation where a group is gathering to do something (go out for lunch, start a meeting, etc.), "Shall we?" would mean something like "Are we now all ready and is it now time to proceed with what we are here for?". (Or more simply, "Should we now proceed?", but that explains "shall" in terms of "should".)
-
-
10If someone says "shall we?", the usual response in my area of New England is actually "we shall" or just "let's". Oct 2, 2010 at 14:58
Shall is used in questions indicating offers or suggestions.
Shall I send you the book?
Shall we go?
Shall we is a polite expression for Let’s go. A Spanish equivalent would be Vámanos.
-
I would add the adjective, deferential, as well. And, indeed, the interrogative (in contradiction of "Parts of Speech"), has been transformed by the asking (by the pretense) into an imperative.– lexOct 17, 2012 at 19:01