FUTURE TENSE

Will or be going to is used to express future time. In speech, going to is often pronounced “gonna.” In (d) the contracted form of will + not  is won´t.

a)       Jack will finish his work tomorrow.

b)       Jack is going to finish his work tomorrow.

c)       Anna will not be here tomorrow

d)       Anna won´t be here tomorrow.      

To express a PREDICTION: use either WILL OR BE GOING TO.

When the speaker is making a prediction (a statement about something s/he thinks will be true or will occur in the future), either will or be going to is possible.

There is not difference in meaning between a-b and c-d.

a)       According to the weather report, it will be cloudy tomorrow.

b)       According to the weather report, it is going to be cloudy tomorrow.

c)       Be careful! You’ll hurt yourself!

d)       Watch out! You´re going to hurt yourself!

e)       A: why did you buy this paint?

B: I´m going to paint my bedroom tomorrow.

f)        I talked to Bob yesterday. He is tired of taking the bus to work. He´s going to buy a car. That´s what he told me.

g)       A: the phone is ringing.

B: I´ll get it.

h)       A: I don´t understand this problem.

B: Ask your teacher about it. She´ll help you.

               To express a PRIOR PLAN: Use only BE GOING TO.

When the speaker is expressing a prior plan (something the speaker intends to do in the future because in the past s/he has made a plan or decision to do it), only be going to is used.

In (e): speaker B has made a prior plan. Last week she decided to paint her bedroom. She intends to paint it tomorrow.

In (f): the speaker knows Bob intends to buy a car. Bob made the decision in the past, and he plans to act on this decision in the future.

Will is not appropriate in (e) and (f).

TO EXPRESS WILLINGNESS: Use only WILL:

In (g): speaking B is saying “ I am willing; I am happy to get the phone” he is not making a prediction. He has made no prior plan to answer the phone. He is instead, volunteering to answer the phone and uses will to show his willingness.

In (h): speaker B feels sure about the teacher´s willingness to help. Be going to is not appropriate in (g) and (h).