Future forms

Decisions, plans and arrangements

Offers, promises and suggestions

Predictions

We use will to make a spontaneous decision (= a decision while we are speaking)

OK, I’ll come for a run with you.

We use going to to talk about future plans (= decisions we made earlier)

We’re not going to stay at that hotel again.

We use the present continuous to talk about arrangements (= fixed plans, usually involving other people and specific times and places)

She’s travelling to Central America on Sunday.

There is not a big difference in meaning between going to and the present continuous to talk about future plans / arrangements. Often both are possible

l’m visiting / going to visit my sister this weekend.

We use will to make offers and promises.

l’ll help you, if you like.

I’ll always be here when you need me.

We use shall + l / we in questions to make offers and suggestions

A Shall I carry that for you? B Oh, yes, please.

A Shall we go swimming on Saturday? B That's a good idea.

We use will to make predictions based on our opinions

l’m sure you'll learn a lot when you go travelling.

Don 't put that there! lt’ll fall off.

We use going to to make predictions based on concrete facts (= things that we can see or information that we have read, etc.)

We should leave soon. The roads are going to be busy.

It's not going to rain. There isn’t a cloud in the sky.

Tip

In negative sentences, say l don’t think + will.

I don't think the forest will recover.

NOT

I think the forest won't recover