Going To vs Will
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There are differences between the terms “going to” and “will”, even though they may seem similar in meaning. Understanding the precise usage of “will” and “going to” is important. “Going to” is an expression made using the verb “go”, while “will” is a well-known modal verb in the English language. The verb “will” originates from the Old English word “wyllan”. The English language contains phrases that incorporate the use of the word “will”, such as “will do”, an informal expression indicating someone’s willingness to carry out a request or suggestion.
What does Going To mean?
“Going to” is generally used informally, as in the sentence:
I am going to tell the truth.
“Going to” is often preceded by the auxiliary verb “am” and its various forms, such as “is” and “are”, as in the following sentences:
I am going to make an announcement.
It is going to happen very soon.
They are going to be successful.
In these examples, “going to” is preceded by the auxiliary verb “am” and its forms “is” and “are”. “Going to” is often used as a present continuous expression, as in the sentence:
I am going to the church now.
In this sentence, “going to” is used as the present continuous form of the verb “to go”. Unlike the verb “will” that indicates certainty, the expression “going to” may not indicate certainty.
What does Will mean?
The sentence “I am going to tell the truth” can also be expressed more formally using the future form of “will”, as shown below:
I will tell the truth.
The verb “will” is typically used in the future tense, as in the following sentence:
He will come tomorrow.
Using the verb “will” indicates certainty, meaning the person is definitely coming tomorrow. The verb “will” is normally used with second and third person pronouns or nouns, and “shall” is used with first person pronouns, as in the sentences:
I shall think about it.
We shall see.
However, it is not incorrect to use the verb “will” with first person pronouns; “shall” is simply an alternative for first person pronouns.
What is the difference between Going To and Will?
• “Going to” is typically used informally, while the verb “will” is used to express the same meaning in a more formal manner. This is the main difference between “will” and “going to”.
• “Going to” is often preceded by the auxiliary verb “am” and its various forms, such as “is” and “are”.
• “Going to” is often used as a present continuous expression.
• The verb “will” is normally used in the future tense.
• The use of the verb “will” indicates certainty.
• The expression “going to” may not indicate certainty.
• For first person pronouns, “shall” can be used instead of the verb “will”.
Key Takeaways
- “Going to” is typically used informally, while “will” is used for more formal situations.
- “Going to” may not indicate certainty, while the verb “will” indicates certainty.
- For first person pronouns, “shall” can be used instead of the verb “will”.