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Lcchang Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Be going to vs Will

1span00Dear teachers,02span02br
01span00I need your help to explain the difference between "be going to Verb" and "will Verb". They look the same to me anyway.02span02br
01span01span00We bought a house in Vancouver.02br
02span01span00We are going to move next month.02br
00We will move next month.02span02span02br
01span01span00Susan is in trouble now.02br
02span01span00I am going to help her.02br
00I will help her.02span02span02br
01span00Please advise. Many thanks.02span02br
01span00Lcchang02span0-
  

Top answer

0Practically speaking, there is little difference, and a native speaker is liable to say either, with a preponderance of the 01i 00be-going-to02i 00 form. 0-

— Mister Micawber

  • 0Practically speaking, there is little difference, and a native speaker is liable to say either, with a preponderance of the 01i 00be-going-to02i 00 form.
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8 Answers
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0Practically speaking, there is little difference, and a native speaker is liable to say either, with a preponderance of the 01i00be-going-to02i00 form. The 01i00will02i00 form here is a simple statement of future fact, while the 01i00be-going-to02i00 form suggests the speaker's certain knowledge of the future event, either be
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0express a prior plan, only be going to used. 02br
02br
00something you intend to do in the future because in the past you have made a plan or decision to do it.02br
02br
00" will" is not appropriate in both cases. 0-
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0Hi,02br
02br
00A simple approach is to use 'be going to' to speak of future plans, otherwise use 'will'. The various uses of 'will' include, for example -02br
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00 a very strong expression of intention (01i00I will suceed, I will, I will, I will!)02i02br
02br
00a rapid and spontaneous decision (01i00Oh,
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0Thanks.02br
02br
00Lcchang0-
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be going to is a PRIOR PLAN, something that you have in mind and you don´t wanrt to change. Will is a probability, something that your are not totally sure that night happen. e.g. I´M GOING TO DANCE this weekend. The only idea you have in mind is DANCE, DANCE, DANCE.. I will go to the beach this weekend, I´m not totally sure about going to the beach. probably yes probably not. Francisco. mx
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This is the way we explain it in Europe:

1) 40-60% of the sentences, going to and will are interchangeable. No big deal.

2) Be going to expresses intention, is more of a personal way to convey the wish for sth to become true.

On the other hand, will is a 'cold' prediction, you don't show your opinion/feeling. (See weather forecasts)

3)Some books would say goin
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I made this post about 2 and half years ago; to my surprise, people are still replying to it. Thanks anyway.
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LcchangI made this post about 2 and half years ago; to my surprise, people are still replying to it. Thanks anyway.

I find that usage distribution will vs. going to is rather notional and defies a systematic approach. You can see that in the wide variety of usage rules and explanations that textbooks/reference books contain on the topic. Interesting
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