future - When do I have to use 'will' instead of 'going to'?


Does going to only express an intention and will some kind of prediction that doesn't necessarily happen?


EDIT: Thanks for all your answers. I asked this question because I always fail to complete exercises like this from an ESL book:



  • We will fly to Venice in June. (Correct: But, how can I be sure that I'm not sick in June?)

  • Philipp will be 15 next Wednesday (Correct: Since his birthday is a fixed day, this will happen).

  • They will get a new computer. (Wrong: Why?, If I need a new computer, I simply get a new one)

  • In 2020 people are going to buy more hybrid cars. (Wrong, Why? Who can tell for sure).



Answer



Using will (or shall) is the proper way to form the actual future tense, and is completely generic. IT can be used in any case in which you wish to refer to the future.


Going to + verb is a shortcut construct that is commonly used in many situations. It is typically used to express occurrences in the near-future.


In many cases however, particularly in colloquial speech, the two constructs are virtually interchangeable.


Wikipedia has some additional notes on usage:



Going-to future is used when the speaker wishes to express certainty about the future based on evidence or fact from the present or the speaker's opinion: "If you do not stop, you are going to be caught by the police and hauled back to jail." "Our houses are going to be swept away by the impending storm." While the "will" and "going to" constructions are often interchangeable, only the "going to" construction can denote former future intention (e.g. "I was going to eat dinner, but decided not to").



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