Will for predictions and decisions

USE:

  1. Will expresses a decision or a future intention made at the moment of speaking. We also use it when we offer help to someone.


Example: Give me your case. I´ll carry it for you.

We´ll do the washing-up.


  1. It also expresses a future fact. The speaker thinks ´This action is sure to happen in the future´. In other words, we use will to say what we think about the future.


Example: Manchester will win the cup.

Tommorow´s weather will be warm and sunny.

I think I will go to the cinema.

´Do you want the blue or red pen?´ ´I´ll take the red one.


This use is like a neutral future tense. The speaker is predicting the future, without expressing an intention, plan, or personal judgement.


FORM:

will + infinitive without to

Will is a modal auxiliary verb. The forms of will are the same for all persons.

Positive and negative

I, you, he, she, it, we, they              will/won´t                come/help you.

Question

What time will you be back?


Going to

USE

Going to is used:

  1. To express a future intention, decision, or plan made before the moment of speaking.


Example: I´m going to study hard.

What are you going to do after college?

  1. When we can see or feel now that something is certain to happen in the future.


Example: Look at these clouds! It´s going to rain.

Watch out! That box is going to fall.

will or going to?

Compare the use of will and going to in these sentences.

I´m going to make a chicken casserole for dinner. (I decided this morning and bought everything for dinner.)

What shall I cook for dinner? Er... I know! I´ll make a chicken casserole! (I decided at the moment of speaking.)

 

Present Continuous

The Present Continuous for the future is used:

  1. To express a planned future arrangement.

´What are you doing on Saturday?´ ´We´re having a party. Can you come?´

  1. With the verbs go and come.

My parents are coming for dinner.

We´re going to the cinema. Do you want to come?


 



Použitá literatúra:
New Headway, the Third edition, Pre-Intermediate, Student´s Book, John and Liz Soars, Oxford University Press, 2007
New Headway, the Third edition, Pre-Intermediate, Teacher´s Book, Mike Sayer, John and Liz Soars, Oxford University Press, 2007
Project 3, Third edition, Student´s Book, Tom Hutchinson, Oxford University Press, 2008