Unit 23. I will and I'm going to

Future actions

Study the difference between will and going to

will : SUE : Let's have a party. HELEN : That's a great idea.            We'll invite lots of people. We use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking. The speaker has not decided before. The party is a new idea.

going to : HELEN : Sue and I have decided to have a party.            We're going to invite lots of people. We use (be) going to when we have already decided to do something. Helen had already decided to invited lots of people before she spoke to Dave.

Future happenings and situations ( predicting the future )

Sometimes three is not much difference between will and going to.

• I think the weather will be nice later.
• I think the weather is going to be nice later.

When we say 'something is going to happen', we know (or think) this because of the situation now.

• Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain ( not 'it will rain' )
• I feel terrible. I think I'm going to be sick. ( not 'I think I'll be sick' )

In other situations, it is safer to use will.

• Tom will probably arrive at about 8 o'clock.
• I think Ann will like the present we bought for her.