Let Georgina teach you when we say ‘will’ and ‘be going to’ in this English In A Minute.
Georgina
What are the differences between will and be going to?
We use will when we make a decision about the future at the moment of speaking.
What do I want to drink?
I think I will have a coffee.
We use be going to when the decision is made before speaking.
I know what I want!
I am going to have a tea.
We can also use will to talk about predictions based on something we expect to happen.
I will probably be late because the buses are often delayed.
We use be going to to talk about a prediction based on evidence.
Look at those black clouds! It is going to rain soon.
Right I’m off now! I’m going to buy a coffee.
Bye!
Future decisions
We use will when we make a decision about the future at the time of speaking.
- PERSON A: I’m cold.
- PERSON B: OK, I’ll get your coat.
We use be going to when the decision is made before speaking.
- I’ve decided! I’m going to go and see my boss!
- I’m going to go to Brazil next year.
Predictions
We can also use will to talk about predictions based on something we expect to happen.
- He’ll probably forget the meeting. He always does.
- It’ll probably be cold next month. It’ll be winter!
We use be going to to talk about a prediction based on current evidence or what we can see.
- That chair looks broken. The leg is going to snap.
- Someone is coming up the drive. I think they are going to knock on the door.
For general predictions, you can often use either form.
- One day we will live on the moon.
- One day we are going to live on the moon.