Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

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363

).

BE GOING TO AND WILL

363

Be going to

and will can both be used to make predictions based on present

evidence or the present situation:

Hurry up or we

’re going to be late!

(or: Hurry up or we’ll be late!)

Normally, be going to is used when there is some outside evidence for what is said

or when the statement can be clearly interpreted:

Rumiko 

is going to have a new baby. 

(outside evidence)

He

’s going to burn that toast. 

(it can be seen)

630 | Future time

Cambridge Grammar of English

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Will/shall

is preferred when evidence is not so obvious or is less immediately

relevant and when judgements or opinions have to be relied on:

The baby 

will have black hair. 

(statement based on the speaker’s judgement/knowledge)

Don’t let him cook. He

’ll even burn the toast. 

(evidence is less obvious, but the speaker knows that the person mentioned

cannot cook)

I’m sure that we 

shall have a good discussion.

(based on the speaker’s judgement)

Will

may be used to state absolute certainties about the future:

My birthday 

will fall on a Tuesday in 2007.

There are contrasts in formality between will and be going to. In general, will is

more formal. The following example shows a switch of formality from will to be

going to

:

[TV weather forecast]

Temperatures 

will be below freezing … and it’s going to be icy on those country

roads, so do take care if you’re driving. 

The following example shows a speaker change from be going to (informal, in this

case gonna) to will (more formal):

[to friend, while looking at a menu]

I

’m gonna have fried mushrooms, you like mushrooms don’t you?

[shortly afterwards, to the waiter]

I

’ll have deep fried mushrooms with … erm … an old timer burger.

✪

When the future reference is based on decisions, plans and intentions, be going

to

is used:

She

’s already going to buy some new shoes; she can’t have the coat as well.

(She will already buy some new shoes …; she can’t have the coat as well.)

I didn’t realise you

’re going to apply for the job too.

(… that you plan/intend/have decided to apply)