Will versus Be Going to

Question

Hi teachers,Would you correct these definitions, please?Will versus Be Going toOne of the uses of the will form is to express predictions for the future, based on speculations.One of the uses of the be going to form is to express plans for the future decided in the past.There are a few more, these are only the first ones.Thanks in advance

Hrsanei · Accepted Answer

Hi.

Your definitions are correct, however as you know, there are other usages for each one.

Regards

Imantaghavi · Answer

Hi,

WILL:

1. future auxiliary( I will be happy when this is finished).

2. certainty( Don't phone them now-they will be having dinner).

3.willingness and decisions(Can somebody help me? I will./ I really will stop smoking)

4.requests, orders and offers(Will you send me the bill, please?/All staff will submit weekly progress reports).

5.typical behaviour( When you look at clouds they will often remind you of animals).

Going to:

1. a present tense: this tense is really a present tense.

2. plans( we are going to get a new car).

3. things that are on the way:( Sandra is going to have a baby in June).

4.commands and refusals: (you arenot going to play football in my garden).

5.gonna: informal of going to

Hope that helps

Iman

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. And yes, I know there are other uses.

Best regards.

TS

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Iman,

Thank you for your reply. It sure does help.

What about these ones, do you agree?

Plans for the future decided in the past

We use “be going to” to express a future plan that has been decided by the subject in the past. There is a previous plan.

Plans for the future decided at the moment of speaking

We use “will” to express a future plan decided by the subject now, at the moment of speaking. There is no previous plan.

Predictions for the future based on visual evidence or on previous information

We use “be going to” to express a prediction, often about the near future, based on the subject’s visual evidence or on previous information.

Predictions for the future based on speculations

We use “will” to express a prediction based on what the subject thinks or imagines, based on a speculation. There is no visual evidence for the prediction or previous information.

Promises for the future

We use “will” to express a promise decided by the subject, normally “I”, for the future.

Formal Situations for the future

“Will” is more formal than “be going to”. “Will” is frequently used in books, newspapers, and signs. For example: in news, weather reports, discourses and announcements.

Best regards

TS

Imantaghavi · Answer

Yes

but for future decided in the past there is an exception for some verbs like: go,come. it's better to use present continuous.because these kind of verbs show actions.

Regards

Iman

CalifJim · Answer

Thinking SpainThere are a few more

"A few" is probably an understatement!

See

CJ

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Jim,

Thank you for the link.

After your explanation about the differences between be going to and will, I can see why you told me that 'a few' is just an euphemism.

But, I can't explain all of them to my students, in fact not even to me. So if you don't mind I'll go on with the ones I posted here. As Nietzsche said, 'There are no facts. only interpretations'.

Best regards from BCN

TS

Will versus Be Going to

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions