Will vs Going To: Understanding the Difference | EasyTeaching

Summary

This video explains the differences between 'will' and 'going to' in English, both of which are used to talk about future events. 'Will' is used for quick decisions, promises, offers, threats, habits, and refusals, while 'going to' is used for prior plans, imminent actions, and predictions based on evidence. The video highlights practical examples and scenarios to clarify these rules and offers viewers the chance to practice forming sentences using both forms. It’s an easy-to-follow lesson perfect for improving understanding of future tense usage in English.

Takeaways

• 😀 'Will' and 'going to' are both used to talk about the future in English, but they are applied differently.
• 😀 'Will' is used for quick decisions made at the moment of speaking, like 'I'll take an umbrella.'
• 😀 'Will' can be used for promises, offers, and threats, such as 'I promise I will look after you.'
• 😀 'Will' is used for habits or predictable behaviors, like 'He will be cranky when he wakes up.'
• 😀 'Will' expresses refusals or unwillingness, such as 'Graham said he won’t come out of his room.'
• 😀 'Going to' is used for actions already planned or decided, such as 'They are going to visit Egypt next month.'
• 😀 'Going to' is used when something is about to happen, like 'The branch is going to fall.'
• 😀 'Going to' is used when there is strong evidence or signs that something will happen, for example, 'It’s going to rain.'
• 😀 Contractions with 'will' (like 'I’ll' and 'won’t') are commonly used in spoken English.
• 😀 The key difference between 'will' and 'going to' lies in the timing and certainty of the event being discussed.
• 😀 Practicing the use of 'will' and 'going to' in different scenarios helps solidify understanding and usage of future tenses.

Q & A

What is the difference between 'will' and 'going to'?

'Will' and 'going to' are both used to talk about the future, but they are often used in different contexts. 'Will' is used for quick decisions, promises, offers, habits, and refusals. 'Going to' is used for prior plans, something that is about to happen, or when there is strong evidence that something will happen.

When do we use 'will' for quick decisions?

'Will' is used for quick decisions made in the moment. For example, 'Look at those clouds. I'll take an umbrella.'

Can you give an example of using 'will' for a promise?

Sure! An example of using 'will' for a promise is: 'I promise I will look after you.'

What is an example of using 'will' for a refusal?

An example of using 'will' for a refusal is: 'Graham said he won't come out of his room.'

What does 'going to' imply when we talk about prior plans?

'Going to' is used when talking about something that has already been planned or decided. For example: 'They are going to visit Egypt next month.'

How is 'going to' used when something is about to happen?

'Going to' is used when something is about to happen at any moment. For example: 'Look out, the branch is going to fall.'

Give an example where 'going to' indicates strong evidence of something happening.

An example is: 'It's starting to rain, it's going to be wet on the roads.' Here, 'going to' suggests strong evidence that rain will affect the roads.

What is the function of contractions like 'I'll' and 'won't' in the video script?

Contractions like 'I'll' (I will) and 'won't' (will not) are used to make speech sound more natural and conversational, especially in informal spoken English.

Can 'will' and 'going to' be used interchangeably?

Yes, 'will' and 'going to' are often used interchangeably, especially in spoken English. However, there are certain contexts where one is preferred over the other, such as when making quick decisions ('will') or referring to prior plans ('going to').

How does the use of 'will' relate to habits or predictable behaviors?

'Will' is used to describe habits or predictable behaviors. For example: 'He will be cranky when he wakes up from his nap.' This indicates a pattern or behavior that is expected to happen regularly.