زمن المستقبل Going to vs Will مع English with Benarina

Going to vs Will

When learning English, students often get confused between “be going to” and “will” because both are used for the future. However, they are not the same! In this lesson, we will explore the key differences and provide examples to help you understand when to use each one.

1. “Be Going To” for Plans and Predictions

We use “be going to” in two main situations:

a) Future Plans (خطط مستقبلية مسبقة)

When we talk about something we have already decided to do in the future, we use “be going to.”

✅ Examples:

I am going to visit my grandmother this weekend. (I have already planned it.)
They are going to move to a new house next month. (It is a decision they made before.)

📝 Explanation in Arabic:

عندما يكون لدينا خطة أو قرار مسبق للمستقبل، نستخدم “be going to”. هذا يعني أننا فكرنا في الأمر مسبقًا قبل التحدث عنه.

b) Predictions Based on Evidence (تنبؤات بناءً على أدلة حالية)

We also use “be going to” when we can see evidence that something will happen soon.

✅ Examples:

Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain. (We see the clouds, so we predict rain.)
She is going to fall! She’s not paying attention while walking. (We see her losing balance.)

📝 Explanation in Arabic:

عندما يكون لدينا دليل واضح في الوقت الحاضر يشير إلى شيء سيحدث في المستقبل، نستخدم “be going to”.

2. “Will” for Instant Decisions, Promises, and Predictions

Now, let’s look at the situations where we use “will.”

a) Instant Decisions (قرارات فورية)

We use “will” when we decide something at the moment of speaking, without prior planning.

✅ Examples:

I don’t have a pen. Oh! I will lend you mine.
I’m thirsty. I will get a glass of water.

📝 Explanation in Arabic:

نستخدم “will” عندما نتخذ قرارًا فجأة أثناء الكلام، دون تخطيط مسبق.

b) Promises and Offers (الوعود والعروض)

We also use “will” when making a promise or offering help.

✅ Examples:

I will help you with your homework. (Offer)
I will always love you. (Promise)

📝 Explanation in Arabic:

عندما نعد أو نقدم المساعدة، نستخدم “will” لأننا لا نتحدث عن خطة سابقة بل عن شيء نقوله في اللحظة نفسها.

c) Predictions Without Evidence (تنبؤات بدون دليل مباشر)

When we predict the future based on opinion or belief (not based on current evidence), we use “will.”

✅ Examples:

One day, people will live on Mars.
I think you will be very successful.

📝 Explanation in Arabic:

عندما نتوقع شيئًا للمستقبل لكن بدون دليل واضح في الوقت الحاضر، نستخدم “will”.

Key Differences at a Glance (الفرق الرئيسي بإيجاز)

Situation	Be Going To	Will
Pre-planned actions	✅ Yes	❌ No
Instant decisions	❌ No	✅ Yes
Predictions with evidence	✅ Yes	❌ No
Predictions without evidence	❌ No	✅ Yes
Promises & offers	❌ No	✅ Yes

Practice Time!

Now, try to complete these sentences with “be going to” or “will.”

Watch out! You ______ fall. (Prediction with evidence)
I think he ______ be famous one day. (Prediction without evidence)
It’s cold outside. I ______ close the window. (Instant decision)
They ______ travel to Spain next summer. They already bought the tickets. (Pre-planned action)
Final Thoughts

Understanding the difference between “going to” and “will” can help you express future intentions, predictions, and decisions more accurately. While “will” is often used for spontaneous decisions and general predictions, “going to” is better for planned actions and strong evidence-based predictions.

Next time you talk about the future, try using both forms in different situations to get comfortable with them. Keep practicing, and soon, choosing between “going to” and “will” will become second nature!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy learning!