Will or going to? Decisions, plans and predictions

The rule

Use will for a decision you make now, an offer, or a prediction from your opinion: I'll have the soup. I'll help you. I think it'll rain. Use going to for a plan you made before, or a prediction from what you can see: I'm going to study medicine. Look at those clouds! It's going to rain.

Arabic سأفعل covers both meanings, so learners use one form for everything. In English, the form shows when you decided: just now (will) or before (going to).

Examples

In a conversation

A: Any plans for Saturday?

B: Yes, I'm going to visit my grandparents in the village.

A: Nice! I'm free, so maybe I'll come with you.

B: Great, I'll call you on Friday.

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. The phone's ringing! Don't worry, ___ it.
   • a) I'll answer
   • b) I answer
   • c) I'm going answer
2. We've bought the tickets. We ___ visit Ali in May.
   • a) will to
   • b) are going to
   • c) go to
3. Look at those black clouds! ___
   • a) It rains.
   • b) It will to rain.
   • c) It's going to rain.

Tip

With I think, I'm sure and probably, use will: I think you'll like it. And no to after will: I will go, not I will to go.

Answers

1. a) I'll answer. A decision made now takes will.
2. b) are going to. The plan is already made: going to.
3. c) It's going to rain. We can see the evidence: going to.

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