Collins Cobuild

Unit 64
‘Will’ and ‘going to’
Main points
When you are making predictions about the future or talking about
future intentions, you can use either ‘will’ (‘I will walk’) or ‘going
to’ (‘I am going to walk’).
For promises and offers relating to the future, you use ‘will’ (‘I will
walk’).
For  future  events  based  on  arrangements,  you  use  the  future
continuous (‘I will be walking’).
For events that will happen before a time in the future, you use the
future perfect (‘I will have walked’).
1
You cannot talk about the future with as much certainty as you can
about the present or the past. You are usually talking about what you
think might happen or what you intend to happen. This is why you
often  use  modals.  Although  most  modals  can  be  used  with  future
reference, you most often use the modal ‘will’ to talk about the future.
Nancy will arrange it.
When will I see them?
2
When you are making predictions about the future that are based on
general beliefs, opinions, or attitudes, you use ‘will’.

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The weather tomorrow will be warm and sunny.
I’m sure you will enjoy your visit to the zoo.
This use of ‘will’ is common in sentences with conditional clauses.
You’ll be late, if you don’t hurry.
When you are using facts or events in the present situation as evidence
for a prediction, you can use ‘going to’.
It’s going to rain. (I can see black clouds)
I’m going to be late. (I have missed my train)
3
 When  you  are  talking  about  your  own  intentions,  you  use  ‘will’  or
‘going to’.
I’ll ring you tonight.
I’m going to stay at home today.
When you are saying what someone else has decided to do, you use
‘going to’.
They’re going to have a party.
She’s going to be an actress.
WARNING: You do not normally use ‘going to’ with the verb ‘go’.
You usually just say ‘I’m going’ rather than ‘I’m going to go’.
‘What are you going to do this weekend?’ – ‘I’m going to the cinema.’
When you are announcing a decision you have just made or are about
to make, you use ‘will’.
I’m tired. I think I’ll go to bed.
4
In promises and offers relating to the future, you often use ‘will’ with
the meaning ‘be willing to’.

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I’ll do what I can.
I’ll help with the washing-up.
Note that you can use ‘will’ with this meaning in an ‘if’-clause.
I’ll put you through, if you’ll hang on for a minute. (= if you are
willing to hang on for a minute)
 WARNING:  Remember  that  you  do  not  normally  use  ‘will’  in  ‘if’-
clauses.
See Unit
66
for more information on ‘if’-clauses.
If you do that, you will be wasting your time.
The children will call out if they think he is wrong.
5
 When  you  want  to  say  that  something  will  happen  because
arrangements have been made, you use the future continuous tense.
I’ll be seeing them when I’ve finished with you.
I’ll be waiting for you outside.
She’ll be appearing at the Royal Festival Hall.
6
When you want to talk about something that has not happened yet but
will happen before a particular time in the future, you use the future
perfect tense.
By the time we phone he’ll already have started.
By 2010, he will have worked for twelve years.

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