Will vs Going To for the Future

Quick Answer: Use going to for plans you have already decided ("I'm going to study medicine") and predictions with evidence now ("Look at the sky, it's going to rain"). Use will for decisions made at the moment of speaking ("I'll have the soup"), promises, offers and opinions about the future ("I think she'll win").

Key takeaways

• Going to = a plan decided before now: "I'm going to visit Spain. I bought the tickets."
• Going to = a prediction from evidence you can see now: "Look at the clouds. It's going to rain."
• Will = a decision made while speaking, a promise, an offer or an opinion: "I'll get it." "I think you'll pass."
• For fixed arrangements with a time and place, the present continuous is most natural: "I'm meeting Elif at six."
• After if, when, as soon as, before and after, use the present simple, not will: "I'll call you when I arrive."
• In many predictions both forms are correct; the difference is a feeling of evidence (going to) versus opinion (will).

How do you form will and going to?

Will

will + base verb, the same for every subject.

• I will help you. (I'll help you.)
• She will be late. (She'll be late.)
• Negative: will not, won't. "They won't come."
• Question: "Will you call me?"

Going to

am, is or are + going to + base verb

• I am going to travel. (I'm going to travel.)
• He is going to buy a car.
• Negative: "We aren't going to stay."
• Question: "Are you going to apply?"

In fast speech, going to often sounds like "gonna." This is fine when speaking, but write going to in formal text.

When do you use going to?

1. Plans and intentions decided before now.

• I'm going to visit my grandparents this weekend. (I already decided.)
• She's going to start a new job in May.
• We're going to paint the kitchen.

2. Predictions based on present evidence. You can see or feel something now.

• Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain.
• Watch out! You're going to fall!
• She's pregnant. She's going to have a baby in March.

When do you use will?

1. Instant decisions, made while speaking.

• A: We've run out of milk. B: Oh, I'll go and buy some.
• A: What would you like? B: I'll have the chicken, please.
• The phone is ringing. I'll get it.

2. Promises.

• I'll call you when I arrive.
• I won't tell anyone, I promise.

3. Offers.

• That bag looks heavy. I'll carry it for you.
• Shall I open the window? (In British English, shall is used for offers with I and we.)

4. Predictions based on opinion or experience. Often with I think, I'm sure, probably, maybe.

• I think Brazil will win the match.
• You'll love this film.
• It will probably be sunny tomorrow.

5. Future facts.

• The sun will rise at 6:12 tomorrow.
• I'll be 30 next year.

The Same Situation, Two Forms

Going to (decided before)	Will (decided now)
A: Why do you have paint? B: I'm going to paint my room.	A: My room looks old. B: Oh, I'll help you paint it!
I'm going to have pasta tonight. (my plan)	Hmm, I'll have the pasta. (choosing from a menu now)

Going to (evidence)	Will (opinion)
The score is 4-0. We're going to win!	I think we'll win on Saturday.

Present Continuous for Arrangements

For fixed arrangements with other people, usually with a time and place, native speakers often use the present continuous.

• I'm meeting Elif at six.
• We're flying to London on Friday.
• What are you doing tonight?

Going to is also correct here, but the present continuous sounds more natural when something is already arranged in a calendar.

Present Simple for Timetables

For schedules and timetables, use the present simple.

• The train leaves at 7:30.
• The course starts on Monday.

Can you use will after if and when?

After if, when, as soon as, before and after, use the present simple for the future, not will.

• Wrong: If it will rain, we will stay home.
• Right: If it rains, we will stay home.
• Right: I'll call you when I arrive.

This is the structure of the first conditional.

Summary Table

Use	Form	Example
Plan, intention	going to	I'm going to learn to drive.
Prediction with evidence	going to	It's going to snow.
Instant decision	will	I'll take it.
Promise	will	I'll be there.
Offer	will	I'll help you.
Opinion prediction	will	I think you'll pass.
Fixed arrangement	present continuous	I'm seeing the doctor at 4.
Timetable	present simple	The bus leaves at 9.

What are the most common mistakes with will and going to?

Mistake	Wrong or unnatural	Right
Will for a plan already made	Next summer I will visit Spain. I bought the tickets.	I'm going to visit Spain.
Going to for an instant decision	The phone's ringing. I'm going to answer it.	I'll answer it.
Missing be	I going to study.	I'm going to study.
To after will	I will to call you.	I will call you.
Will after if	If you will come, I will be happy.	If you come, I will be happy.

A note for Turkish speakers

Turkish often uses one future form (-ecek, -acak) for plans, promises and predictions. English splits it: "Yarın sinemaya gideceğim" as a plan is "I'm going to the cinema tomorrow" or "I'm going to go to the cinema", but a promise like "Seni arayacağım" is "I'll call you." Also, the Turkish present tense in "Ben açarım" (offering to open the door) matches English will: "I'll get it."

Practice Quiz

Choose will or going to.

1. A: I'm cold. B: I ___ close the window.
2. We ___ move to a new flat next month. We signed the contract.
3. Look at that car! It ___ crash!
4. I promise I ___ forget your birthday this year.
5. I think it ___ be a great party.
6. She has bought paint and brushes. She ___ paint her room.
7. A: Tea or coffee? B: I ___ have tea, please.

Answers: 1. 'll (will) 2. are going to 3. is going to 4. won't 5. will 6. is going to 7. 'll (will)

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People Also Ask

What is the main difference between will and going to?

Use going to for plans you made before speaking and for predictions based on present evidence. Use will for decisions made at the moment of speaking, promises, offers and general predictions.

Can I use will and going to for predictions?

Yes. Both are used for predictions. Going to is preferred when you can see evidence now, as in Look at those clouds, it is going to rain. Will is common for opinions, as in I think it will rain tomorrow.

What does gonna mean?

Gonna is the informal spoken pronunciation of going to. It is very common in speech and songs, but use going to in formal writing and exams.

Related Reading

• Present Simple vs Present Continuous
• The First Conditional
• All English Tenses: An Overview
• English Contractions: I'm, Don't, Can't