UNIT 23. I will and I'm going to

    A. Future actions

  Study the difference between will and going to:

  Sue is talking to Helen:

  SUE: Let's have a party

  HELLEN: That's a great idea. We'll invite lots of people.

  will ('ll): We use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking. The speaker has not decided before. The party is a new idea.

  Later that day, Helen meets Dave:

  HELLEN: Sue and I have decided to have a party. We're going to invite lots of people.

  going to: We use (be) going to when we have already decided to do something. Helen had already decided to Invite lots of people before she spoke to Dave.

  Compare:

  * 'George phoned while you were out.' 'OK. I'll phone him back.'

  but * 'George phoned while you were out.' 'Yes, I know. I'm going to phone him back.'

  * 'Ann is in hospital.' 'Oh really? I didn't know. I'll go and visit her.'

  but * 'Ann is in hospital.' 'Yes, I know. I'm going to visit her tomorrow.'

    B. Future happenings and situations (predicting the future)

  Sometimes there is not much difference between will and going to. For example, you can say:

  * I think the weather will be nice later.

  * I think the weather is going to be nice later.

  When we say 'something is going to happen', we know (or think) this because of the situation now. For example:

  * Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain. (not 'it will rain' - we can see the clouds now)

  * I feel terrible. I think I'm going to be sick. (not 'I think I'll be sick' - I feel terrible now)

  Do not use will in situations like these. (See also Unit 20C.)

  In other situations, it is safer to use will:

  * Tom will probably arrive at about 8 o'clock.

  * I think Ann will like the present we bought for her.