This document explains the difference between using "will" and "be going to" when making predictions or talking about the future in English. It states that "will" is used for decisions made at the moment of speaking or for promises, while "be going to" is used for decisions made before speaking or predictions based on evidence. It provides examples of using each structure correctly in sentences. It also lists the simple future forms as "will + infinitive" and "be + going to".

1. Simp
le
Will+Infinitive or Be+Going
to

2. What’s the difference?
WILL
• A decision at the
moment of speaking:
Julie: There's no
milk.
John: Really? In that
case, I'll go and get
some.
GOING TO
• A decision before the
moment of speaking:
Julie: There's no
milk.
John: I know. I'm
going to go and get
some when this TV
program finishes.

3. How to use the tense?
WILL
• A prediction based on
opinion:
I think the
Conservatives will
win the next
election.
GOING TO
• A prediction based on
something we can
see (or hear) now:
The Conservatives
are going to win the
election. They
already have most of
the votes.

4. WILL
• A future fact:
The sun will rise
tomorrow.
•
• For promises / requests /
refusals / offers:
I'll help you tomorrow, if
you like.
OTHER EXAMPLES
• (The phone rings)
Julie: I'll get it!
('I'm going to get it' is very
strange, because it makes us
think that Julie knew the phone
was going to ring before it did).
•
I'm going to go on holiday next
week.
('I'll go on holiday next week'
makes it sound like you've only
just decided at that minute. Of
course, this is possible, but
normally we plan our holidays
more in advance!).
•

5. SIMPLE FUTURE
FORM
WILL + INFINITIVE

6. SIMPLE FUTURE FORM
BE + GOING TO

7. Bibliografia
• http://
www.perfect-english-grammar.com/simple-future.html
• http://
www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/future-1-going-to
• http://englishgrammarsecrets.com/willfuture/menu.php
• http://www.brasilescola.com/ingles/simple-future-tense.htm