Scribd
Upload
23 views2 pages

What's The Difference? 'Will' and 'Be Going To'

Will + infinitive expresses a decision made at the moment of speaking or a prediction based on opinion. Be going to + infinitive expresses a decision made before speaking, usually based on evidence, or a future fact. Both can be used to talk about the future, with will implying more spontaneity and be going to implying more planning or prediction. The present continuous and simple present tenses are also used to talk about the future in certain contexts.

Uploaded by

Marija Micunovic
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
23 views2 pages

What's The Difference? 'Will' and 'Be Going To'

Will + infinitive expresses a decision made at the moment of speaking or a prediction based on opinion. Be going to + infinitive expresses a decision made before speaking, usually based on evidence, or a future fact. Both can be used to talk about the future, with will implying more spontaneity and be going to implying more planning or prediction. The present continuous and simple present tenses are also used to talk about the future in certain contexts.

Uploaded by

Marija Micunovic
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

What's the difference?

'Will' and 'be going to'


Will + infinitive Be going to + infinitive
A decision at the moment of
A decision before the moment of speaking:
speaking:
Julie: There's no milk.
Julie: There's no milk.
John: I know. I'm going to go and get some when this TV
John: Really? In that case, I'll go and
programme finishes.
get some.
A prediction based on something we can see (or hear)
A prediction based on opinion:
now:
I think the Conservatives will win the
The Conservatives are going to win the election. They
next election.
already have most of the votes.
A future fact:

The sun will rise tomorrow.


For promises / requests / refusals /
offers:

I'll help you tomorrow, if you like.

More examples:

 (The phone rings)


Julie: I'll get it!
('I'm going to get it' is very strange, because it makes us think that Julie knew the phone was going
to ring before it did).

 I'm going to go on holiday next week.


('I'll go on holiday next week' makes it sound like you've only just decided at that minute. Of
course, this is possible, but normally we plan our holidays more in advance!).

Other points about the future:

We use the present continuous tense for definite future arrangements. Often, it doesn't really
matter if we choose 'be going to' or the present continuous. In the following example, there is really
very little difference in meaning:

 I'm going to the cinema tonight.


 I'm going to go to the cinema tonight.

We use the present simple tense in two cases. First, we use it for a timetabled event in the
future, like public transport or the start of a class:

 My train leaves at six tonight.


 His class starts at 9am tomorrow.
Second, we use it after certain words, when the sentence has a future meaning. These words
are: before / after / as soon as / until / when:

 I'll call you when I get home.


 She's going to study after she finishes dinner.
 Please drink some water as soon as you complete the race.

You might also like