When do we use "will" and "be going to" in talking about facts in the future?

By Ranjana S.

• Anna: It's my birthday next week. I will be twenty next Monday.
• Tim: Oh, really? Are you going to have a party?
• Anna: I'm going to have dinner in a restaurant with a few friends.
• Tim: That''ll be nice.

****Will:

"Will" has a neutral meaning. We use it to talk about facts in the future.

I will be twenty next Saturday.

The spacecraft will land on the moon tomorrow morning.

****Be going to:

We use "be going to" for an intention, something that we have already decided to do.

• We are going to have dinner.
•  Andrew is going to sell his house.

Will does not express an intention.

It's her birthday. She's going to have a meal with her friends. NOT She'll have a meal.

However, we often use be going to for an intention and will for the details and comments. We are all going to dance at the party. There will be five of us.

Be going to, can be used in present continuous tense too.

• We are going to organize a get together next Friday.
• We are driving down to the South of France. It's going to be hectic.

»»»»Decisions and Intentions:

°°°Will:

We use will for an instant decision or agreement to do something.

• There's a mall on the adjacent side of the road, I will go and shop there.
• Mom: You haven't arranged your shelves, Rogers.
• Rogers: Ok, I will do it tomorrow.
• Rogers is deciding now.

°°°Be going to:

Be going to means that we have already decided.

• I'm going to the mall to shop.
• Mom :You haven't arranged your shelves, Rogers.
• Rogers: I'm going to do it tomorrow.
• Rogers has already decided.

»»»»Foretelling or Predictions:

°°°Will:

We can use will for a prediction about the future.

• I think India will win the match.
• One day we will go to Mars for our vacation.

°°°Be going to:

We use be going to for a prediction when we see from the present situation what is going to happen in the future.

• Look at the dark sky,  it's going to rain it seems.
• This bag isn't very strong. It's going to break.

It is often possible to use either form in a prediction. For example, we can also say I think India is going to win the match.

Usually, be going to is considered to be a little more informal and conversational than will.