Future Tense: Going To Vs . Wi l l

By: Ms.Azzamouri Asmae

Unit 4: Leisure And Entertainment Level: 1st Year Baccalaureate

Read The Following Examples And Guess When To Use “Be Going To” And “Will”

• I think it will rain tomorrow.

• I am going to meet bill tonight at 5 p.m

Will

am going to

Auxiliary verbs

Julie: There's no milk.John: Really? In that case, I'll go and get some.

(He’ve just decided this right now)

Julie: There's no milk.John: I know. I'm going to go and get some when this TV programme finishes.

A DECISION AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING:

A DECISION BEFORE THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING:

• I think the Conservatives will win the next election.

Ps: If we are not so certain about the future, we use 'will' with expressions such as 'probably', 'possibly', 'I think', 'I hope'.

The Conservatives are going to

win the election. They have

already won most of the votes.

A PREDICTION BASED ON OPINION:

A PREDICTION BASED ON EVIDENCE.

A FUTURE FACT:

• The sun will rise tomorrow at 6 a.m.

• The President will serve for four

years.

• We will study for 3 hours.

Making Promises / Refusals/ Invite / hope:

• I'll help you tomorrow, if you like.

• I hope you'll visit me in my home one day.

Present Simple Tense: For Scheduled Events

Present simple tense is used for a timetabled events in the future, like public transport or the start of a class:

• My train leaves at six tonight.• His class starts at 9am tomorrow.

Present Continuous Tense: For Arrangements: 

The present continuous tense is used in talking about arrangements: 

• I'm going to travel to Spain next week.• I'm traveling to Spain next week.

• I am sorry I can’t talk to you now. I will call you

later

• I am sorry I can’t talk to you now. I am going to

call you later

PRACTICE: CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER:

• Stephanie will have a baby in June

• Stephanie is going to have a baby in June

• There isn’t much petrol left. We’ll run out.

• There isn’t much petrol left. We’re going to run out.

I. FORM:

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI will see I won't see Will I see….?

Will

Be Going to Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI am going to see I am not going to see Am I going to see….?

Will + Base Verb Be Going To + Base VerbA decision at the moment of speaking:

(The phone rings)Julie: I will get it!

A decision before the moment of speaking:

I'm going to go on holiday next week.

A prediction based on opinion:

I think I will miss the bus.

A prediction based on physical evidence.

The traffic is terrible. I am going to miss my flight.

A future fact:The sun will rise tomorrow at 6 a.M

For promises / requests / refusals/ invite / offers:

I'll help you tomorrow, if you like.

II. USAGE:

1. I think he …….…(be) the next President of the United States.

2. After I graduate, I ……….................…(attend) medical school and become a doctor. I

have wanted to be a doctor all my life.

3. A: I can't hear the television!

B: I ……….(turn) it up so you can hear it.

4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We ……………………

(visit) Paris, Nice and Grenoble.

EXERCISE: FILL THE BLANK WITH “BE GOING TO” OR “WILL”.

will be

am going to attend

Will turn

are going to visit