1

It’s not easy to discern which to choose among ‘be going to’ and ‘will’ to express a near future plan or intention. I’m going to bring up two cases.

[A] In a situation that when one says “Oh, I’m hot,” while two are in the room, what can the other one say?: [A-1] I’m going to open the window. [A-2] I’ll open the window.

For ‘be going’ is concerned with ‘present intention’(CGEL,p.211-2), [A-1] seems to be possible; yet it’s also concerned with ‘present arrangement,’ it doesn’t seem to. How could I have arranged the opening window before his saying 'hot'?
However, [A-2] seems to be quite wilful to say in the situation. When it’s not a big deal to open the window, do I have to use my will? It could be said that 'will' is used in a implication that 'if you want, I will open the window'- as a conditional consequence.

How about this?:
[B] In a situation that I’ve planned that I would learn to play the guitar after deeply impressed by a guitarist, what can I say?: [B-1] I’m going to learn to play the guitar. [B-2] I will learn to play the guitar.

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

[A-2] I’ll open the window.

At the point of saying this, you already made the decision to open the window, since in effect you are agreeing it is too hot and you are offering to (want to) do it.

[B-1] I’m going to learn to play the guitar.

Here you have the intention to learn to play the guitar, but it is a long process and it is uncertain whether you will be successful or not. So this is a "present intention".

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    I'll disagree with the distinction in all cases. "It's hot in here. I'm going to open a window." means exactly the same as "It's hot in here. I'll open a window."
    – WhatRoughBeast
    Mar 8, 2015 at 1:07
  • "In all cases"? But there's such a very large number of differences between be going to and will.
    – user230
    Jan 9, 2017 at 15:58
1

The going-future (gF) is considerably longer than the will-future (wF), so it automatically has more weight than the wF, especially when it is shortened to 'll. One important use of gF is when you give information about something that is important news for the person spoken to. Examples:

  • I'm going to marry - meaning I have the plan/I intend to marry.
  • I'm going to buy a new car.

When you want to open the window because you are hot this is a spontaneous action and you use the short and normal wF. It would be a bit funny if you presented your opening the window as important news.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .