Going to vs Will be. I'm confused?

Question

Ok, so according to what I've learnt:

Uses for going to: predictions with evidence, plans

Uses for will be: predictions, promises, decisions at the moment

I had this exercise where I had to choose the correct one.

Hurry up! We will be / are going to be late.

I choosed going to because if someone tells you to hurry, it's because you're obviously being late, I thought I'd be a prediction with evidence. But my teacher marked it as wrong and I don't understand, why?

A couple of English corrections: "I chose going"... thought it'd be.... See my answer below. - katydew, Dec 13, 2012

If you want your teacher to be as confused as you, give her this article on periphrases from wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periphrasis - PeterRS, Dec 13, 2012

Answer 1

This is difficult because in spoken English, I would use both interchangeably and not think twice about it.

In my opinion, saying, "Hurry up! We will be late", would be said by someone who is pretty sure that you will arrive late. "Hurry up! We are going to be late", would be said by someone trying to influence the other person because there is a chance that if they don't, they will be late.

This is not a grammatical answer. However, I think in spoken language, it won't really matter which one you say. They mean pretty much the same thing depending on what words you emphasize in the sentence.

I agree! - JoyceM, Dec 13, 2012

I agree, it's used pretty interchangeably. - suyash_d, Dec 13, 2012

I couldn't agree more. I everyday spoken English, there is really no difference. Hard to picture a scenario where the two couldn't be used interchangeably w/o the full context. - rogspax, Dec 13, 2012

Answer 2

I agree that in spoken English you will be understood whether you use the future tense or going to + inf.

Grammatically, this is how I teach the difference to my students when I teach it to them in Spanish.

You use going to + inf. to say that you are going to do something right now or at the present time. Ej. I am going to check the mail (this is saying that you intend to check the mail right away or in a minute).

If you use the future tense you are saying something slightly different that may indicate an uncertain future (Spanish subjunctive) or a certain future, but in the future (a day, month, semester, year, etc. away). Ej. I will check the mail when my husband gets home from work. (This indicates that you don't know when your husband will get home, but you will check the mail when he gets home). Ej. In March I will run a 5K (this indicates that you have set plans to run a 5K, but this event is more so in advance than a minute or two).

As far as your teachers correction, it is hard to understand without seeing the exact context of what she wanted you to answer.

I hope this helps you!

Answer 3

I don't know if this will help but I'm going to post it.

My wife: You said you would clean out the shed.

Me: I'm going to. (meaning I just have to do something first)

  I will. (meaning someday the shed **might** get clean)

In either case, I haven't kept my promise to clean out the shed, but in the first example, I might actually be on my way to do it.

Using one phrase or the other might identify you to some people as a non-native speaker, but unless you're a foreign spy passing as a native, I wouldn't worry about it.

Answer 4

The answer to this question is not without complexities. The periphrastic future tense (going to + infinitive) is employed in English to express a firm intention; however informally it is interchangeable with the future tense proper.

The future tense has some nuances depending on the use of the words "shall" or "will"

Future Tense: To express a future intention use the words as follows:

I shall / you will / he will / we shall / you will / they will

Future Tense: To express determination, the words are reversed:

I will / you shall / he shall / we will / you shall / they shall

For example: "I shall not go" (future tense: I have no intention to go) "I will not go" (expresses determination not to go)

There are some lines from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar addressed by Caesar to Decius Brutus:

"And you are come in very happy time,

To bring my greetings to the senators

And tell them that I will not come today:

Cannot is false, and that I dare not, falser:

I will not come today: tell them so, Decius.

This distinction between "shall" and "will" is apparently dropping out of American English, except for use in legislation where precision of language is crucial.

I don't know if this has helped you.

"

To say to someone "You SHALL do such & such" implies a command and a threat. (or else) is implied. - PeterRS, Dec 13, 2012

precisely, "I am determined that you shall do it" - padrin, Dec 13, 2012