Reference · module 12
Going to and will
Everything this module explains, on one page.
I'm going to
Say what you intend to do.
- be going to plus a verb says what you have decided: I'm going to learn Spanish. The decision was made before you spoke.
- The form is the continuous of go plus to plus the plain verb: I am going to call her. Three pieces, and the be is the only one that changes.
- going to go looks strange and is correct: I'm going to go home. Everyday speech often shortens it to I'm going home, which means the same.
The mistake you are about to make
I will learn Spanish. (already decided)
I'm going to learn Spanish.
One future form covers everything in many languages, so will takes on the whole job. A decision made before you started speaking belongs to going to.
will
Predict, promise and decide on the spot.
- will plus the plain verb, and it never changes: I will, he will, they will. The short form is 'll and the negative is won't.
- will predicts: It will rain tomorrow. And it promises: I'll call you. Both are about a future nobody has arranged yet.
- It also decides at the moment of speaking: the phone rings and you say I'll get it. going to would be wrong there — nothing was decided before.
The mistake you are about to make
The phone's ringing. I'm going to get it.
The phone's ringing. I'll get it.
Going to was learned first and feels like the solid choice. A decision made in the moment of speaking takes will.
When it happens
Put a future event on the calendar.
- tomorrow, next week, next year, in two days, in an hour. next takes no preposition; in counts forward from now.
- in two days means two days from now, and after two days means something else entirely. English keeps those apart carefully.
- After when, if, before and after, English uses the present for a future meaning: I'll call you when I arrive, never when I will arrive.
The mistake you are about to make
I'll call you when I will arrive.
I'll call you when I arrive.
Both halves are about the future, so will goes into both. After when, if, before and after, English uses the present and means the future.
Inviting and suggesting
Invite somebody and accept or decline.
- Would you like to have dinner? is the polite invitation, and it always takes to plus a verb. Do you want to is the same thing, more direct.
- For a joint suggestion: Shall we go? or Let's go. shall is mostly British and mostly used in exactly this question.
- To accept: That sounds great, or I'd love to. To decline: I'd love to, but … The but is what makes a refusal land gently.
The mistake you are about to make
Would you like have dinner?
Would you like to have dinner?
Would you like always takes to plus the verb. The to slips out easily, because the nearby patterns — can, let's — have none.