Will vs. Going to: Simple English for Plans, Predictions, and Quick Decisions

Planning dinner tonight? Making a promise to a friend? Predicting the weather? In English, we often choose between will and going to to talk about the future. At A2 level, you can sound clear and natural by using each form in the right moment. In this lesson, you’ll learn the simple rules, common phrases, and get lots of practice.

The big idea: two future forms, two main uses

will: quick decisions, offers, promises, and general predictions
going to: plans/intentions decided before speaking, and predictions with clear evidence

Both are useful in daily life. Let’s keep it simple and practical.

English

I’ll call you after work.

Offer/promise made now

English

We’re going to cook pasta tonight.

Plan decided before speaking

English

Watch out! You’re going to drop your phone.

Prediction with evidence

🧠 Choose will or going to

Will: quick decisions, offers, promises

We often use will in the moment of speaking.

Quick decision: “The phone is ringing—I’ll answer it.”
Offer: “You look tired. I’ll carry your bag.”
Promise: “I’ll text you tonight.”
General prediction/opinion: “I think she’ll love the gift.”

Cultural tip: In English-speaking countries, offers often use “I’ll…” — it sounds polite and helpful.

It’s raining! I take an umbrella.

I am will help you. → I will help you. Don’t mix be + will. Use will + base verb for offers/promises.

Pronunciation note

“I will” often becomes “I’ll” in speech. “She will” → “She’ll.” These contractions are very common and natural.

Going to: plans and evidence-based predictions

Use going to when you decided before speaking, or when there’s clear evidence for the future.

Plan decided before: “We’re going to visit Grandma on Sunday.”
Intention: “I’m going to learn to drive this year.”
Evidence: “He’s running late. He’s going to miss the bus.”

Remember the be verb changes: I am, you/we/they are, he/she/it is.

🔠 Put the words in order

Start with the subject. Use are + going to + base verb.

study (will + base) future (will)

Pronoun	Conjugation
I	will study
you	will study
he/she/it	will study
we	will study
they	will study

study (be going to + base) future (going to)

Pronoun	Conjugation
I	am going to study
you	are going to study
he/she/it	is going to study
we	are going to study
they	are going to study

💬 Offer vs. Plan

Notice how A uses going to for a plan, and B uses both going to (intention) and I’ll (offer made at that moment).

plan

a decision about what you will do

noun/verb

We’re going to plan our trip this weekend.

We will decide details for our trip this weekend.

decision

a choice you make

noun

I just made a decision—I’ll stay home tonight.

I decided now; I will stay home tonight.

prediction

a guess about the future

noun

Those clouds are dark. My prediction: it’s going to rain.

I think rain will come soon because of the clouds.

offer

to say you will help or give something

noun/verb

I’ll carry your suitcase.

I am offering help now.

promise

to say you will definitely do something

noun/verb

I promise I’ll call you.

I will call you for sure.

🧠 Make it negative or a question

go verb root -ing continuous marker to infinitive marker (next verb)

Are you to join us for lunch?

Mini practice stories

Read the short situations. Decide which form fits and why.

You’re at a café. The server says, “We have a new cake today.” You decide now: “I think I’ll try it.”
Your friend asks about the weekend. You already have plans: “I’m going to visit my cousin.”
You see a friend carrying many bags. You offer: “I’ll help you.”
You look at the sky; it’s very dark: “It’s going to rain.”

Say them aloud. Listen to yourself using will for quick decisions/offers, and going to for plans/evidence.

Quick reference: time phrases you’ll hear

With going to (plans): tonight, this weekend, on Saturday, next week
With will (offers/promises): Don’t worry, I’ll…, I promise I’ll…
With predictions: I think (will), I’m sure (will), Look at…, It’s going to…

These phrases help you choose the form fast in real conversations.

Final check

You now know when to use will and going to:

Will for quick decisions, offers, promises, and general predictions
Going to for plans and predictions with evidence

Keep listening for these forms in shows, podcasts, and daily conversations. Try using them today: make one offer with “I’ll…” and say one plan with “I’m going to…”. You’ve got this!