ESL CONNECT | Going To vs Will

Explanation: going to vs will

Use going to and will to talk about the future, but they are not always the same. The difference is about plans, evidence, predictions and decisions.

1. Going to for plans and intentions

Use be going to + verb when you already have a plan or intention before speaking.

Form	Structure	Example
Affirmative	subject + am/is/are going to + verb	I am going to study tonight.
Negative	subject + am not/isn’t/aren’t going to + verb	She isn’t going to come.
Question	Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + verb?	Are you going to travel?

Examples:
I’m going to visit my grandparents this weekend. = I already have this plan.
We’re going to watch a film tonight. = We decided before now.

2. Going to for predictions with evidence

Use going to when you can see evidence now.

Examples:
Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain.
Be careful! You’re going to fall.
She looks tired. She’s going to sleep soon.

3. Will for instant decisions

Use will + verb when you decide at the moment of speaking.

Situation	Example
You are in a café and decide now.	I’ll have a coffee, please.
Your friend needs help.	I’ll help you.
The phone is ringing.	I’ll answer it.

4. Will for predictions, opinions and guesses

Use will when you make a prediction based on your opinion, belief or guess, not clear evidence.

Examples:
I think Milan will win the match.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy the course.
Maybe it will be sunny tomorrow.

5. Will for promises and offers

Use	Example
Promise	I’ll call you tomorrow, I promise.
Offer	I’ll carry your bag.
Refusal	I won’t tell anyone.

6. Main difference

Going to	Will
Plans decided before now.	Decisions made now.
Predictions with clear evidence.	Predictions based on opinion or guess.
I’m going to cook dinner tonight.	I’ll cook dinner. You look tired.
Look at the sky. It’s going to rain.	I think it will rain tomorrow.

Remember:
Plan before speaking = going to.
Decision now = will.
Evidence now = going to.
Opinion/guess = will.

Going to: form

Choose the correct form.

1. I __________ tonight.

going to study am going to study will going to study

2. She __________ her grandparents.

is going to visit are going to visit is going to visits

3. They __________ to the party.

don’t going to come aren’t going to come won’t going to come

4. __________ this summer?

Do you going to travel Are you going to travel Will you going to travel

Write the sentence

Complete: We / going to / watch / a film / tonight.

Answer: We are going to watch a film tonight.

Going to for plans

Choose going to when the future action is already planned.

1. I bought the tickets yesterday. I __________ my friends at the cinema.

will meet am going to meet meet

2. We booked a hotel. We __________ Paris next month.

will visit are going to visit visited

3. Anna bought all the ingredients. She __________ dinner tonight.

will cook is going to cook cooks

4. They found a new flat. They __________ next week.

are going to move will move moving

Will: decisions, offers and promises

Use will when you decide now, offer help or make a promise.

1. A: This box is heavy. B: Don’t worry, __________ you.

I’m going to help I’ll help I helped

2. Waiter: What would you like? Customer: __________ a tea, please.

I’ll have I’m going to have I have had

3. The phone is ringing. __________ it.

I’m going to answer I answered I’ll answer

4. I promise, __________ anyone.

I won’t tell I’m not going to telling I don’t tell

Write the sentence

Write a promise: I / call / you / tomorrow.

Answer: I’ll call you tomorrow.

Predictions: evidence or opinion?

Use going to when there is evidence now. Use will for an opinion, belief or guess.

1. Look at those black clouds. It __________.

will rain is going to rain rains

2. I think Italy __________ the match.

is going to win will win wins

3. Be careful! Those glasses __________.

will fall are going to fall fell

4. I’m sure you __________ the lesson.

will enjoy are going to enjoy enjoyed

Going to or will?

Choose the best future form.

1. I have an exam tomorrow, so I __________ tonight.

will study am going to study studied

2. A: I can’t open this door. B: I __________ you.

will help am going to help helped

3. They reserved a table. They __________ dinner at 8.

will have are going to have have

4. I think the meeting __________ useful.

is going to be will be was

5. Look! That chair __________.

will break is going to break breaks

6. I promise I __________ you later.

am going to call will call called

B1 contrast practice

Choose the best answer. Think about the speaker’s reason.

1. I’ve decided. __________ my job next year.

I’ll change I’m going to change I change

2. A: It’s cold in here. B: OK, __________ the window.

I’m going to close I’ll close I closed

3. The traffic is terrible. We __________ late.

will be are being is going to be

4. In my opinion, many jobs __________ in the future.

are going to disappear will disappear disappeared

5. They’ve bought rings. They __________ married.

will get are going to get get

6. A: I forgot my wallet. B: Don’t worry, __________.

I’m going to pay I’ll pay I paid

Correct the mistake

Correct: I will visit my cousin tomorrow. I bought the train ticket yesterday.

Answer: I’m going to visit my cousin tomorrow.

Correct: I’m going to help you. The decision is made now.

Answer: I’ll help you.

Mixed practice

Choose the best answer.

1. Look outside. It __________.

will rain is going to rain rained

2. I think English __________ useful for your job.

will be is going to be was

3. I’ve made a plan. I __________ a new course next month.

will start am going to start started

4. The doorbell is ringing. I __________ it.

am going to answer will answer answered

5. We booked the restaurant. We __________ dinner there tonight.

will have are going to have had

6. I’m sure you __________ this film.

are going to love will love loved

Final writing practice

1. Write one future plan using “going to”.

2. Write one instant decision using “will”.

3. Write one prediction with evidence using “going to”.

4. Write one prediction/opinion using “will”.