Will vs Going to

Are you confused about the difference between "will" and "going to" in English? If so, you’re not alone. Many learners find it difficult to understand the differences between these two words. In this reference, we’ll take a look at when to use "will vs going to" and how to remember the differences.

The difference between Will and Going To

The main difference between will and going to is that will is used to describe something that happens in the future, while going to is used to describe something that has already been planned.

Will is used to talk about future events that are unexpected or not planned. For example, if someone says “I will go to the store later,” they are talking about an event that has not been planned yet.

Going to helps us talk about future events that have already been planned. For example, if someone says “I’m going to the store later,” they are talking about an event that has already been planned.

Will and going to can also be used to talk about predictions. When talking about predictions, will is used for predictions about the future that are based on evidence or facts, while going to is used for predictions about the future that are based on personal feelings or opinion.

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Examples of Will and Going To sentences

Here are some examples of sentences using will and going to:

1. I will go to the store later. (unexpected or not planned)
2. I'm going to the store later. (already planned)
3. I think it will rain tomorrow. (prediction based on facts)
4. I think it's going to rain tomorrow. (prediction based on feelings or opinion)

Rules for using Will and Going To

There are a few rules to keep in mind when using will and going to:

1. Will is used for unexpected or not planned events in the future.
2. Going to is used for planned events in the future.
3. Will is used for predictions based on evidence or facts.
4. Going to is used for predictions based on personal feelings or opinion.

When to use Will

Will is used for unexpected or not planned events in the future. It is also used for predictions based on facts or evidence. Here are some examples:

• I will call you tomorrow. (unplanned event in the future)
• I think the stock market will go up tomorrow. (prediction based on facts)
• We will go to the beach this weekend. (unplanned event in the future)
• I think it will be sunny tomorrow. (prediction based on facts)
• My team will win the game tonight. (prediction expressing certainty)

When to use Going To

Going to is used for planned events in the future. It is also used for predictions based on feelings or opinion. Here are some examples:

• I'm going to call you tomorrow. (planned event in the future)
• I think the market is going to go up tomorrow. (prediction based on feelings or opinion)
• We're going to go to the beach this weekend. (planned event in the future)
• I think it's going to be sunny tomorrow. (prediction based on feelings or opinion)
• My team is going to win the game tonight. (prediction expressing strong belief)

Will vs Be Going To

As you can see, "will" and "going to" are often used interchangeably and have the same meaning. While there are some subtle differences, you can't go wrong with either one. In other words, regardless of which one you use, you will still be understood.

However, it's still important to understand the difference between them and use the correct one. When in doubt, use "will" for unexpected events and "going to" for planned events.

Summary

Will is typically for unexpected or not planned events in the future and predictions based on facts or evidence. However, the two often tend to be interchangeable. Practice using both to sound more natural and intuitively use the right word for all situations!