English Grammar - Will and Going to

Form

Affirmative
I will play
You will play
He/she/it will play
We will play
You will play (pl.)
They will play

Negative
I will not play
You will not play
He/she/it will not play
We will not play
You will not play
They will not play

Question
Will I play?
Will you play?
Will he/she/it play?
Will we play?
Will you play?
Will they play?

Affirmative
I am going to play
You are going to play
He/she/it is going to play
We are going to play
You are going to play
They are going to play

Negative
I am not going to play
You are not going to play
He/she/it is not going to play
We are not going to play
You are not going to play
They are not going to play

Question
Am I going to play?
Are you going to play?
Is he/she/it going to play?
Are we going to play?
Are you going to play?
Are they going to play?

Functions and examples - will

1. We use 'will' to give or ask for information or facts about the future.
Her parents will be here in about an hour.
All her friends will come to her wedding.

2. We use 'will' for plans or decisions made at the time of speaking.
"We need some paper for the photocopier." "Okay, I'll go and get some."
"What would you like to eat?" "I'll have a pizza please."

3. We use 'will' to predict the future.
I think it will rain tomorrow.
Al Pacino will win the award for Best Actor.
Do you think Brazil will win the World Cup?

4. We use 'will' to predict the present.
Don't phone her now, she'll be busy.

5. We use 'will' to offer to do something.
I'll take you to the airport tomorrow.
That suitcase looks heavy, I'll carry it for you.

6. We use 'will' to agree to do something.
Okay, I'll come with you

7. We use 'will' to promise to do something.
I promise I won't tell anyone you broke the window

8. We use 'will' to make requests (or give orders).
Will you open the door for me please?
Will you marry me?
Will you shut up please?

9. We use 'will' to refuse to do something or talk about refusals.
No, I won't cook your dinner, you can cook it yourself.
I've asked him but he won't do it.

Functions and examples - going to

1. We use 'going to' for plans or decisions made before speaking.
Is John coming home soon? - Yes, I'm going to meet him at the airport tomorrow.
I'm going to watch TV in a minute, because my favourite programme is on.

2. We use 'going to' to predict the future based on present evidence.
Look at the sky. It's going to rain soon.
Germany have just scored. England are going to lose again.

Teaching Will and Going to

quote Teaching will: first I show a picture of a fortune teller and ask students what people usually want to know about their future, next I elicit from students how a fortune teller predicts something in the future.
Example: You will marry a very rich man. You will experience a great loss. You will be rich, etc...
Teaching (be) going to: first I show a picture of a man who won the lottery. Then I show a picture of a reporter who will interview him. The reporter wants to know how he will spend his money in the future. I ask students the questions that a reporter might ask, then elicit how the winner would answer the questions. Example: "I am going to set up my own business." "I am going to live in hollywood", etc
Lolly