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Re: [Lingo] Usage of "should"



On Thursday, May 31, 2012, Nguyễn Vũ Hưng wrote:

 3. "Shall we dance?"
Q: Is this American English?

Very much so, although I would posit that "shall we dance" is a set phrase that comes from the historical formality of dancing.

Another use of "shall" in a set phrase is when getting ready to leave a restaurant. Everyone is in that post-coffee and/or -desert stage, and someone says "shall we?", at which time everyone nods sadly and stands up to leave.

--Josh


--
Cheers,
Josh

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