will | shall + always | never (long-term intention)

The modal verbs:

Will / Shall

are often used with the pronouns I and we to show our intentions and to make promises with future simple.  In the mid-position, the adverbs: ‘always’ and ‘never’ can make it quite clear that these statements are intended to be true for a long time.  For example:

This is a day we shall never forget.

listen


In the English Grammar Profile, C2 point 67 in the category of FUTURE simple is defined as:

‘will’ or ‘shall’ to talk about long-term intentions.

*There is quite a bit of romantic sentiment to this grammar point.  ‘I will always love you, and I will never leave you.’


The only way to differentiate this point from others is ‘I’ or ‘We’,’always’ or ‘never’ as used in the EGP examples.

A search in iWeb for:

I|We will|shall always|never _VVI *

1 I WILL NEVER FORGET. 2836 (not sure if this is intention, prediction or just a certain fact)
2 I WILL NEVER FORGET THE 2361
3 I WILL NEVER GO BACK 1319
4 I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT 1056
5 WE WILL NEVER KNOW. 857
6 WE WILL NEVER FORGET. 650
7 I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER 646
8 I WILL NEVER FORGET IT 604
9 I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU 547

I will always love you.

listen

10 WE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO 532
11 I WILL NEVER FORGET, 521
12 I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE 469
13 I WILL NEVER KNOW. 444
14 I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS 429
15 I WILL NEVER FORGET MY 408
16 I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY 397
17 WE WILL NEVER ASK YOU 397
18 I WILL NEVER GIVE UP 386
19 WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT 375
20 WE WILL NEVER SHARE YOUR 343
21 I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW 337
22 WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE 330
23 I WILL NEVER BUY A 324
24 I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU 315

I will never leave you.

listen

25 I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU 303
26 I WILL NEVER FORGET! 302
27 I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER. 301
28 WE WILL NEVER KNOW, 291
29 I SHALL NEVER FORGET THE 279
30 I WILL NEVER FORGET AND 274
31 WE WILL NEVER KNOW FOR 261
32 WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE 259
33 WE WILL ALWAYS STRIVE TO 237
34 I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT 236
35 WE WILL NEVER SELL YOUR 232
36 I WILL NEVER GO TO 230
37 I WILL NEVER LOOK AT 212
38 I WILL ALWAYS TRY TO 210
39 I WILL NEVER USE ANOTHER 210
40 WE WILL NEVER SELL OR 200
41 I WILL NEVER USE THIS 197
42 WE WILL NEVER ASK FOR 189
43 WE WILL NEVER KNOW IF 182
44 WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP 177
45 WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU 176
46 I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW 174
47 I WILL NEVER GET TIRED 167
48 I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND. 167
49 I WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN 166
50 I WILL NEVER USE IT 160
51 I WILL NEVER GET BACK 159
52 I SHALL NEVER FORGET. 159
53 I WILL NEVER USE THEM 155
54 I WILL NEVER FORGET HER 154
55 I WILL NEVER TIRE OF 147
56 I WILL ALWAYS THINK OF 146
57 I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER MY 146
58 I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM 144
59 I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING 144
60 I WILL NEVER USE ANYTHING 141
61 I WILL NEVER BUY FROM 140
62 I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS 140
63 I WILL NEVER GET TO 140
64 I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE 139
65 WE WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO 137
66 WE WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU 137
67 I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE 136
68 I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH. 133
69 WE WILL NEVER GO BACK 133
70 WE WILL NEVER SELL, 131
71 I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM 130
72 I WILL NEVER KNOW, 130
73 I WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT 125
74 I WILL NEVER ORDER FROM 125
75 WE WILL NEVER FORGET! 125
76 I WILL NEVER FORGET THOSE 123
77 I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS 122
78 I WILL NEVER GO ANYWHERE 120
79 I WILL ALWAYS COME BACK 118
80 I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT 116
81 I WILL NEVER LET YOU 113
82 WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE 113
83 I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THE 109
84 I WILL NEVER GET A 108
85 WE WILL ALWAYS TRY AND 108
86 I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM 106
87 I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU 102
88 I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER 100
89 I WILL NEVER BUY THIS 99
90 I WILL NEVER GET THE 99
91 I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR 96
92 I WILL ALWAYS LOOK BACK 96
93 I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE. 96
94 I WILL NEVER RETURN TO 96
95 WE WILL NEVER SEE THE 96
96 I WILL NEVER BUY ANY 92
97 I WILL NEVER FORGET THEM 91
98 I WILL NEVER FORGET A 91
99 I WILL NEVER USE ANY 89
100 WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER. 88

C2 Vocabulary: endeavour, strive, tire


Real example:

We here at The18 will do our best to always use proper US English when referring to soccer teams. After all, the US is home to the best soccer team of all time, and we will always refer to the USWNT as a singular unit. Alas, most soccer fans will still prefer to use English grammar when talking about soccer.

(read more context)

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