Spontaneous decisions and predictions with will; plans and evidence-based predictions with going to
I can choose between will and going to for decisions, plans and predictions.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
The phone's ringing — I'll get it!
The phone's ringing — I'll get it!
We're going to spend August in Cornwall — we booked the cottage in January.
We're going to spend August in Cornwall — we booked the cottage in January.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Two futures share the work:
| will | going to | |
|---|---|---|
| decision | made now: I'll take this one. | made before: We're going to move in May. |
| prediction | opinion: I think it'll rain. | evidence: Look at those clouds — it's going to rain. |
| offers/promises | I'll help you. I won't tell anyone. | — |
Both take the bare infinitive; will never changes.
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises
Practice ExercisesPlan/decision moment ignored
Now-decision → will; pre-decided → going to
to after will
will + bare infinitive
The phone's ringing — I'll get it!
The phone's ringing — I'll get it!
Spontaneous decision at the moment of speaking → will.
We're going to spend August in Cornwall — we booked the cottage in January.
We're going to spend August in Cornwall — we booked the cottage in January.
Pre-decided plan → going to.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises