What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to choose between will and be going to for the future, matching the meaning you want to express.
When do I use it?
Use will for decisions you make at the moment of speaking, and for offers, promises and predictions without present evidence: "I'll help you with that" (you decide now), "I think it will rain tomorrow" (a guess).
Use be going to for plans and intentions you decided before speaking, and for predictions based on evidence you can see: "I am going to visit my sister in March" (a plan you made), "Look at those clouds, it's going to rain" (you can see the clouds).
- A: This bag is heavy.
- B: I'll carry it for you. (decision now → will)
- I am going to start a course in September. I booked it last week. (plan → going to)
How do I form it?
will + base verb → spontaneous decisions, offers, promises, guesses am/is/are + going to + base verb → plans, intentions, evidence-based predictions
- Don't worry, I will help you. (decision now)
- I think they will win the match. (guess)
- We are going to buy a house next year. (plan)
- She is going to be late — her train just left. (evidence)
Both structures use the base form of the main verb: "will go", "going to go". The verb never changes, and there is no "to" after will.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers often use "will" for every future idea, because Spanish "voy a / va a" covers both meanings. But English splits the job: a fixed plan needs "be going to", not "will". "Voy a visitar a mi abuela" (planned) is "I am going to visit my grandmother", not "I will visit my grandmother". The reverse also happens: with "be going to" speakers forget the "be" part — "I going to travel" is wrong; say "I am going to travel".
Decided now → will. Decided earlier → be going to. Can you see or know the reason right now → be going to.
Practice
Multiple Choice
A2Which sentence describes a decision made at the moment of speaking?
Fill in the Blank
A2I have a plan for the summer: I going to travel around Spain.
Hint: 'Be going to' needs am/is/are before it.
Find the Error
A2Sentence Transformation
A2Task: Rewrite using will for a spontaneous decision
Hint: Use 'will' for decisions made at the moment of speaking.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: A2