How to use Will & Going to

Forming sentences with Will and Going to

will + verb
am/is/are + going to + verb

will not/won’t + verb
am/is/are not + going to + verb

Using “will”

1. To give or ask for information about the future.
   • Her parents will be here in about an hour.
   • All her friends will come to her wedding.
2. 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. To make predictions about 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. To make predictions about the present.
   • Don’t phone her now, she’ll be busy.
5. To offer to do something.
   • I’ll take you to the airport tomorrow.
   • That suitcase looks heavy, I’ll carry it for you.
6. To agree to do something.
   • Okay, I’ll come with you.
7. To promise to do something.
   • I promise I won’t tell anyone you broke the window.
8. To make requests (or give orders).
   • Will you open the door for me please?
   • Will you marry me?
   • Will you shut up please?
9. 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.

Using “going to”

1. 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. To make predictions about 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.

Pronunciation

See the phonemic chart for IPA symbols used below.

1. In connected speech, will is usually contracted to ‘ll, pronounced /əl/ or /ʊ/ or even /ɔː/
   • I’ll /aɪjəl/ – this in turn is sometimes reduced to /ɑːl/
   • You’ll /juːəl/ – this is sometimes reduced to /jɔːl/
   • He’ll /hiːəl/
   • We’ll /wiːəl/
   • They’ll /ðəɪəl/ – this is sometimes reduced to /ðel/
2. In connected speech, going to is reduced to its weak form, with several possibilities. “I’m going to leave” can be:
   • /gəʊɪŋtə/ – the vowel sound in “to” is reduced to a schwa
   • /gəʊɪntə/ – the vowel sound in “to” is reduced to a schwa and the last consonant sound of “going” is elided, so/ŋ/ becomes /n/
   • /gʌnə/ – this is the often quoted “gonna”

Related grammar points

Future continuous
Future perfect