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Gravedigger Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
WILL DO and GOING TO DO
We use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking. We do not use WILL to say what somebody has already decided or arranged to do in the future.
e.g.
John: Let's have a party.
Sue: That's a great idea! We will invite lots of people. (the speaker has not decided before. The party is a new idea)
We use going to (do) when we have already decided to do it, we intended to do it.
e.g.
John: There's a film on television tonight. Are you going to watch it?
Sue: No, I am tired. I am going to have an early night. (Sue has already decided to have an early night)
Now would you have a look at this dialogue please?
Karen: Drive faster, Peter. We're late.
Peter: There's something wrong. Listen!
Karen: What's happened?
Peter: The engine's stopped.
Karen: Oh, dear. And we're late.
Peter: I'm going to have a look at it.
Now my question is:
why did Peter use GOING TO (DO)? though it seems he decided to do at the time of speaking, so he should have used WILL instead.
With all my respect...
GRAVEDIGGER
e.g.
John: Let's have a party.
Sue: That's a great idea! We will invite lots of people. (the speaker has not decided before. The party is a new idea)
We use going to (do) when we have already decided to do it, we intended to do it.
e.g.
John: There's a film on television tonight. Are you going to watch it?
Sue: No, I am tired. I am going to have an early night. (Sue has already decided to have an early night)
Now would you have a look at this dialogue please?
Karen: Drive faster, Peter. We're late.
Peter: There's something wrong. Listen!
Karen: What's happened?
Peter: The engine's stopped.
Karen: Oh, dear. And we're late.
Peter: I'm going to have a look at it.
Now my question is:
why did Peter use GOING TO (DO)? though it seems he decided to do at the time of speaking, so he should have used WILL instead.
With all my respect...
GRAVEDIGGER
Top answer
gravedigger why did Peter use GOING TO (DO)? though it seems he decided to do at the time of speaking, so he should have used WILL instead. It does seem that "will" would also have been a good choice.
- gravedigger why did Peter use GOING TO (DO)?
- though it seems he decided to do at the time of speaking, so he should have used WILL instead.
- It does seem that "will" would also have been a good choice.
- Nevertheless, the choice between will and going to depends on what is in the speaker's mind .
- It appears that when Peter first noticed that something was wrong he had already begun to form a plan of what he might do.
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2 Answers
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gravediggerwhy did Peter use GOING TO (DO)? though it seems he decided to do at the time of speaking, so he should have used WILL instead.It does seem that "will" would also have been a good choice.
Nevertheless, the choice between will and going to depends on what is in the speaker's mind. It appears that when Peter firs
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