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1. To express a PRIOR PLAN only Be
going to is used.
| Examples |
Explanation |
a) A: Why did
you buy this paint?
B: I’m going to paint my bedroom tomorrow.
b) I talked to Bobby yesterday. He is tired of taking the metro
to work. He’s going to buy a car. This is
what he told me.
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When the speaker is expressing a prior plan (something the speaker
intends to do in the future because in the past s/he has made a
plan or decision to do it), only be going to is used.*
In (a): Speaker B has made a prior plan. She decided to paint her
bedroom last week. She intends to paint her bedroom tomorrow.
In (b): The speaker knows Bobby’s intention to buy a car.
Bobby made the decision in the past and he intends to act on this
decision in the future.
Will is not appropriate in (a) and (b).
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2. To express WILLINGNESS only Will is used.
| Examples |
Explanation |
c)
A: The doorbell’s ringing!
B: I’ll answer it!
d) A: I don’t
understand this problem.
B: Ask your teacher about it. He’ll help you.
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In (c): Speaker
B is saying: I am willing, I am happy to answer the doorbell.” He
is not making a prediction. He has made no prior plan to answer
the doorbell. He is, instead, volunteering
to answer the doorbell and uses will to show his willingness.
In (d): Speaker B feels sure about the teacher’s willingness
to help.
Be going to is not appropriate in (c) and (d).
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* Compare:
Situation 1
A: Are you busy this evening?
B: Yes, I’m going to meet Nathalie at the library at eight. We’re
going to study together.
In situation 1, only be going to is possible. The speaker has a prior
plan, so he uses be going to.
Situation 2
A: Are you busy this evening?
B: Well, I really haven’t made any plans. I’ll eat (or
I’m
going to eat) dinner, of course. Then I’ll probably watch (I’m probably going
to watch) TV for a little while.
In situation 2, either will or be going
to is possible. Speaker
B has not planned his evening. He is “predicting” his evening
(rather than stating any prior plans), so he may use either will or
be going
to.
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