Will vs. Going to (vs. Present Continuous)
Future Forms
In English, we have different ways to talk about things that will happen in the future. These "future forms" help us express our plans, predictions, and promises, making our language more precise and colourful when we discuss what's coming next.
Just Imagine...
Imagine you're standing at a crossroads in time, peering into the future.
In one direction, you see a well-trodden path (easy to see) with signposts clearly marking the way - that's the realm of 'going to'.
In the other direction, you see a misty road (not clear) full of possibilities and spontaneous twists - that's the domain of 'will'.
When it comes to talking about the future in English, 'will' and 'going to' are like two different crystal balls.
'Going to' shows us the future we can already see coming, based on current evidence or plans. It's like looking at storm clouds and saying, "It's going to rain."
On the other hand, 'will' is for those spur-of-the-moment (sudden) decisions or predictions about a less certain future. It's like suddenly deciding, "I will learn to juggle this year!"
Understanding when to use each of these future-telling tools can add precision and nuance to your English, allowing you to paint a clearer picture of what lies ahead.
Going to
Going to expresses intention or decision thought before the moment of speaking. A plan.
Examples:
We are going to have a holiday in Egypt this summer.
Our son is going to study Computer Science at Stanford University.
I'm going to start a new diet next month.
They are going to visit their grandparents this weekend.
or
We can see evidence now that something is certain to happen.
Examples:
Look at those thick dark clouds. It's definitely going to rain.
We are going to be late for the movie.
(as the traffic is terrible)
The baby is going to cry. (she is rubbing her eyes and is gettin fussy)
Will
Will expresses an intention or decision made at the moment of speaking.
Examples:
I'll have a steak, please. (in a restaurant)
It's really cold in here. I'll close the window.
Your bags are heavy. I'll help you carry them.
A: This question is really difficult.
B: Don't worry, we'll help you to answer it.
or
It expresses a future fact or prediction. (opinion based prediction)
Examples:
I'll be away for two weeks. (future fact)
She will be back at 4 o'clock.
Our love will last forever.
I think Chris will do very well in his exams.He works hard.
I'm sure inflation will fall next year.
And the 3rd Way...
Imagine you're now standing at a three-way intersection in time.
We've already explored the well-marked path of 'going to' and the misty road of 'will'. Now, picture a third path where you can see someone already walking - that's the present continuous used for future events.
The present continuous for future actions is like watching a movie trailer - you're seeing a glimpse of a future that's already in motion. It's for those near-future events that are already arranged or scheduled.
For example:
"I'm meeting my friend for coffee tomorrow."
"I'm flying to New York tomorrow morning."
"I'm seeing the dentist after work."
"My parents are coming to visit in two weeks."
"We are having a staff meeting next week."
So now we have:
'Going to' - The future we can predict based on current evidence (the storm clouds)
'Will' - Spontaneous decisions or less certain predictions (the sudden urge to learn juggling)
Present Continuous - Near-future events already arranged (the movie trailer)
Using our time-travel analogy:
"It's going to rain tomorrow." (You see the storm clouds gathering)
"I will buy an umbrella." (A spontaneous decision in response)
"I'm buying a new raincoat next week." (An already planned future action, i decided it earlier)
So here is your detailed map of the future, showing not just what might happen, but also what's already set in motion!
Wir benötigen Ihre Zustimmung zum Laden der Übersetzungen
Wir nutzen einen Drittanbieter-Service, um den Inhalt der Website zu übersetzen, der möglicherweise Daten über Ihre Aktivitäten sammelt. Bitte überprüfen Sie die Details in der Datenschutzerklärung und akzeptieren Sie den Dienst, um die Übersetzungen zu sehen.