Will versus be going to

         The future is used to express an action which will occur at a later time.  WILL + INFINITIVE are used to express intention at the moment of decision.  This intention is usually though, not necessarily, unpremediated.

Example: Joaquin Phoenix will have a salad and a muffin.

For unpremediated actions as above, we must use will (normally contracted to ' ll ).  But note that if after his decision the speaker mentions the action again, he will use not will, but be going to or the present continuous. (see section on present continuous)

Example:  What are you having/going to have?

                 Joaquin Phoenix said:  “I am having/going to have a meatless.”

FORMING THE SIMPLE FUTURE

AFFIRMATIVE: Auxiliary   WILL   +   Infinitive without to

Contracted   =           ‘ll                 +   Infinitive without to

Example: Christian Slater will have the leading role of Paul Watson in Ocean Warrior.

NEGATIVE:         WILL NOT           +   Infinitive without to

Contracted  =        WON’T             +   Infinitive without to

Example:  Christian Slater won’t have the secondary role of Paul Watson in Ocean Warrior.

INTERROGATIVE:    WILL  +    Subject   +   Infinitive without to  +   Object?

Example:  Will Christian Slater have the leading role of Paul Watson in Ocean Warrior?

ADVERBS usually used either at the beginning or at the end of sentences.

       Tomorrow,          next week,         next month,         next year.

Example:  I will visit the Paramount Studio next week.

The BE GOING TO form

Use for intention

This form express the subject’s intention to perform a certain future action.  Actions expressed by the be going to form are usually considered very likely to be performed, though there is not the same idea of definite future arrangement that we get from the present continuous.  As already shown, be going to can be used:

- for a near future with time expression as an alternative to the present continuous, i.e. we can say:  

 I am meeting Tom Cruise at the studio at eight.  It implies anarrangement with Tom; contrary to, I 

 am going to meet Tom.

- Be going to can be used with a time clauses when we wish to emphasize the subject’s intention or 

  without a time expression.

Example:  In just a few months, Movieline magazine is going to raise the curtain on the biggest 

                 event in Young Hollywood history.

Use for prediction

This form can express the speaker’s feeling of certainly.  The time is usually not mentioned, but the action is expected to happen in the near or immediate future.

Example:   Look at the crowd?    We are going to have tough time to get some tickets.