"will do" is the same as "going to" ??

Question

Is the spanish term for phrases with "will do" is the same as "going to" which is "voy a". Example: I will do it/ I am going to do it = Yo voy a hacerlo. Thanks~`

Answer 1

They can mean the same thing technically, but in actual usage is a subtle difference. For example,

If I say "Lo haré" (I will do it), well, I may or may not. Yes, I said "I'll do it", but you don't know when. It's very 'noncommittal').

If I say "Voy a hacerlo", I'm going to do it, you can count on it. It's a definite thing. Even if I say "Lo haré mañana", there still can be an element of doubt. After tomorrow has passed, I call my friend and ask him "¿Qué pasó? ¿Por qué no hiciste lo que te pedí? y él me dice "pues, lo iba a hacer pero...."

It's very subtle, it's not subjunctive, it's just something that's driven me crazy for years

it's just like you say. your answer is the best, no doubt - 000a35ff, Aug 24, 2015

Thank you :) - Jack-OBrien, Aug 25, 2015

Answer 2

Yes both can mean the same thing. To use the word will, you would use the future tense.

Lo haré mañana.- I will do it tomorrow.

The future tense of regular verbs is quite simple as it just adds a personal ending to the infinitive:-

Yo- Viajaré – Conoceré - escribiré

Tú –viajarás – Conocerás - escribirás,

él, ella, usted- viajará -conocerá -escribirá

nosotros- viajaremos - conoceremos-escribiremos

vosotros-viajaréis conoceréis escribiréis

ellos, ellas ustedes, - viajarán – conocerán-escribirán

Hacer is one of the irregular verbs and these need to be learned individually.

I find it hard to believe you are a beginner in Spanish.. - rac1, Aug 24, 2015

You're being very kind rac1 but it's such an uphill struggle that I think I'll always be a beginner. - tomasdeAlba, Aug 24, 2015

...besides - I only ever learn the easy parts - tomasdeAlba, Aug 24, 2015

Answer 3

I will do it. can also be written in the future tense in Spanish Lo haré.

I will do it in English can also mean I want to do it which is Quiero hacerlo.

I am going to do it can be translated into Spanish as Voy a hacerlo.

Unless you are saying I am going to do it (and not someone else) you do not need yo.

You are correct in your posting except language names are always capitalized: English, Spanish, Swedish, German (in the English language, of course, not in Spanish - no en español)

Answer 4

Just to add to what the others have said ... Another option for 'will' is simply the present tense.

'Voy a' or the present tense is generally used for the close future and the future tense is generally restricted to the more distant future.

Te llamo mañana. I'll ring you tomorrow.

Voy a llamarle mañana. I'm going to ring him tomorrow.

Le llamaré en diez años. I'll ring him in ten years.

Answer 5

I noticed in Bolivia that the "going to " option is used much more than the simple future.

In English the simple future is really only a prediction

I will do it.

Unless the will is emphasised. Then it becomes more like a promise.

I am going to do it = It is already planned / I know when it will happen.