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One use for the modal auxiliary
will (and also for be going to)
is in showing someone's predictions about the future--things
that someone speaks or writes about before they actually
happen.
Another
use for will (but not be
going to) is
in showing
willingness or volition--being agreeable to the idea of doing
something.
When will is used in this way, it can refer to either
present
or future time.
When someone speaks or writes
about an event in the future,
maybe that event
was planned in the past and maybe it wasn't.
If
the event was planned in the past, be going to,
but not will,
is used. If the event
was not planned in the past, either will or
be going to
may be used.
Examples:
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A:
B:
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Do you want to go for a cup
of coffee?
No, thanks. I'm really tired
and I'm going
to
go
to bed in just a few minutes.
|
(B has already made plans
to go to bed soon, so she/he
uses be going to, not will.)
_____________________________________
|
A:
B:
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|
Are you looking forward to
your vacation?
Yes, very much. I'm going to visit some
friends in San Francisco.
|
(B has already made plans
to visit friends in San Francisco,
so she/he uses
be going to, not will.)
_____________________________________
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A:
B:
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|
What are you going
to do in San
Francisco?
My friends and I haven't made
any special plans,
but I'm sure that we'll have a good time.
|
(Because A assumes that B
and her/his friends have made plans
about what
to do, A uses be
going to in the
question. Because
no plans have been made, B uses
will in the answer--though
be going to is also possible.)
________________________________________________
| A: |
|
Will
you be back home in time to go to
Susie's party? |
| B: |
|
I'm
afraid not. Her party's on the 15th,
and I'm not going
to leave San
Francisco
until the 16th. |
(Because A isn't sure when
B plans to return, she/he uses
will in the question--though be going to is also possible.
Because B has already
made plans to return on the 16th,
B uses be going to in the answer.)
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Remember:
When no plans for the future
have been made in the past,
either be going to or will may be used--because the future
event will be a prediction.
When plans for the future have
been made,
only be going
to may be used.
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