A. Future actions
Study
the difference between will and going to:
Sue is
talking to Helen:
SUE:
Let's have a party
HELLEN:
That's a great idea. We'll invite lots of people.
will
('ll): We use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking. The
speaker has not decided before. The party is a new idea.
Later
that day, Helen meets Dave:
HELLEN:
Sue and I have decided to have a party. We're going to invite lots of people.
going
to: We use (be) going to when we have already decided to do something. Helen
had already decided to Invite lots of people before she spoke to Dave.
Compare:
*
'George phoned while you were out.' 'OK. I'll phone him back.'
but *
'George phoned while you were out.' 'Yes, I know. I'm going to phone him back.'
* 'Ann
is in hospital.' 'Oh really? I didn't know. I'll go and visit her.'
but *
'Ann is in hospital.' 'Yes, I know. I'm going to visit her tomorrow.'
B.
Future happenings and situations (predicting the future)
Sometimes there is not much difference between will and going to. For
example, you can say:
* I
think the weather will be nice later.
* I
think the weather is going to be nice later.
When we
say 'something is going to happen', we know (or think) this because of the
situation now. For example:
* Look
at those black clouds. It's going to rain. (not 'it will rain' - we can see the
clouds now)
* I feel
terrible. I think I'm going to be sick. (not 'I think I'll be sick' - I feel
terrible now)
Do not
use will in situations like these. (See also Unit 20C.)
In other
situations, it is safer to use will:
* Tom
will probably arrive at about 8 o'clock.
* I
think Ann will like the present we bought for her.
EXERCISES
23.1
Complete the sentences using will ('ll) or going to.
1. A:
Why are you turning on the television?
B: I'm
going to watch the news. (I/watch)
2. A:
Oh, I've just realised. I haven't got any money.
B:
Haven't you? Well, don't worry. --- you some. (I/lend)
3. A: I've
got a headache.
B: Have
you? Wait there and --- an aspirin for you. (I/get)
4. A:
Why are you filling that bucket with water?
B: ---
the car. (I/wash)
5. A:
I've decided to repaint this room.
B: Oh,
have you? What colour --- it? (you/paint)
6. A:
Where are you going? Are you going shopping?
B: Yes,
--- something for dinner. (I/buy)
7. A: I
don't know how to use this camera.
B: It's
quite easy. --- you. (I/show)
8. A:
What would you like to eat?
B: --- a
sandwich, please. (I/have)
9. A:
Did you post that letter for me?
B: Oh,
I'm sorry. I completely forgot --- it now. (I/do)
10. A:
The ceiling in this room doesn't took very safe, does it?
B: No,
it looks as if --- down. (it/fall)
11. A:
Has George decided what to do when he leaves school?
B: Oh,
yes. Everything is planned. --- a holiday for a few weeks and then --- a
computer programming course. (he/have, he/do)
23.2
Read the situations and complete the sentences using will ('ll) or going to.
1. The
phone rings and you answer. Somebody wants to speak to Jim.
CALLER:
Hello. Can I speak to Jim, please?
YOU:
Just a moment. --- him. (I/get)
2. It's
a nice day. You've decided to sit in the garden. Before going outside, you tell
your friend.
YOU: The
weather's too nice to stay indoors. --- in the garden. (I/sit)
FRIEND:
That's a good idea. I think --- you. (I/join)
3. Your
friend is worried because she has lost an important letter.
YOU:
Don't worry about the letter. I'm sure --- it. (you/find)
FRIEND:
I hope so.
4. There
was a job advertised in the paper recently. At first you were interested but
then you decided not to apply.
FRIEND:
Have you decided what to do about that job that was advertised?
YOU:
Yes, --- for it. (I/not/apply)
5. You
and a friend come home very late. Other people in the house are asleep. Your
friend is noisy.
You:
Shhh! Don't make so much noise. --- everybody up. (you/wake)
6. John
has to go to the airport to catch a plane tomorrow morning.
JOHN:
Ann, I need somebody to take me to the airport tomorrow morning.
ANN:
That's no problem. --- you. (I/take) What time is your flight?
JOHN:
10.50.
ANN: OK.
--- at about 9 o'clock then. (we/leave)
Later
that day, Joe offers to take John to the airport.
JOE:
John, do you want me to take you to the airport?
JOHN: No
thanks, Joe. --- me. (Ann/take)
the answer
23.1
2 I'll
lend
3 I'll
get
4 I'm
going to wash
5 are
you going to paint
6 I'm
going to buy
7 I'll
show
8 I'll
have
9 I'll
do
10 it is
going to fall
11 He's
going to have ... he's going to do
23.2
1 I'll
get
2 I'm
going to sit ... I'll join
3 you'll
find
4 I'm
not going to apply
5 You'll
wake (You're going to wake is also possible)
6 I'll
take ... We'll leave ... Ann is going to take
