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Will vs Going to
There is a difference between these two ways of expressing the future. Generally "to be + going to" is used for actions that are going to happen very soon or to express a plan that you have. "Will" is used to express a promise, a prediction or something that you want to do in the future. -
"Going to":
Future tense with "going to" is most commonly used in spoken language when one wants to refer to the immediate future, that is, something that is about to happen. -
It is also used to talk about intentions or plans to do something:
I’m going to learn English = voy a aprender inglés. -
Examples
She is going to pay with a credit card = Ella va a pagar con una tarjeta de crédito (algo que está por ocurrir).
I am going to drop off my prescription over there = voy a dejar mi prescripción médica allá. -
It is formed with the verb "to be" conjugated for the corresponding person, followed by "going to" and the verb base.
"To be" + "going to" + verbo:
I am going to pay = yo voy a pagar.
You are going to pay = tú vas a pagar.
He is going to pay = él va a pagar. -
Will
The future with "will" is used to talk about decisions made while talking: -
Examples:
I need to get my medicine. I will go to the pharmacy tonight.=Necesito comprar mi medicina. Iré a la farmacia esta noche.
I need some cash. I will pay with my debit card and ask for cash back.=Necesito algo de efectivo. Pagaré con mi tarjeta débito y pediré efectivo de vuelta. -
It is also used to say general predictions:
I’m sure it will rain tomorrow.= Estoy seguro de que va a llover mañana.
Gerardo Gómez will win the election.=Gerardo Gómez va a ganar las elecciones. -
It is formed with the verb "will" + verb:
I will pay later.
You will pay later.
He will pay later.
She will pay later.
It will pay later.
We will pay later.
You will pay later.
They will pay later. -
Impotent!
"Will" is a modal verb (or auxiliary) that is used to form the future. "Will" must always be accompanied by another verb to form the future.
