Going To/Present Continuous & Will: What's The Difference

The young man clearly needs help. What do you say in this situation?

a) I'm going to give you a hand with those boxes.

b) I'll give you a hand with those boxes.

c) I'm giving you a hand with those boxes.

The correct answer is....

b 

All three options look very similar. They're about the future and offer help. Why is "b" the correct answer? What's the difference between "going to", "be + ing", and "will"?

Today, we'll look at how to use  "going to", "be + ing", and "will".  

 

We use "going to" and/or present continuous (be + ing) when we're talking about future plans that have already been decided. For example:

Shin: Would you like to have drinks with us Friday after work, Jinny?

Jinny: I'm sorry, I can't. I'm working late Friday.  

If we're talking about our 

Will  ('ll) is used when we're:

a) making a prediction about the future

b) making a decision or offer at the moment of speaking

c) not 100% certain of our plans.

d) making a promise

(note: when speaking, we usually use the contraction "'ll")

Let's look at the conversation between Shin and Jinny again. 

Shin: Would you like to have drinks with us Friday after work, Jinny?

Jinny: I'm sorry, I can't. I'm working late Friday.  I'll be in the office till 8 this evening.

Shin: I see. That's too bad.

Jinny: Yeah, I'll be too tired to go out. How about next Friday? I'm working a regular schedule then.

Shin: That sounds good. We'll probably go out again. I'll call you next Thursday to confirm.

Jinny: Great. Have a good day, Shin.

 You see that we often  use time expressions when using this language (next week, tomorrow at 7, etc). 

Exercise

Choose the correct options-"going to", present continuous, or will (won't)-to complete the sentences.  As always, the comments section can be used to write your answers.

Clerk: Good afternoon. May I take your order?

Customer: Yes, please. I'll have/I'm going to have a cheeseburger with a large cola, and onion rings.

Chris: What are you're plans for your holiday in Mexico, Grace?

Grace: Well, I've hired a boat, so I'll go/I'm going to go scuba diving off the Yucatan peninsula. If 

            have time, I'll do a hiking trip/I'm doing a hiking trip around the Aztec pyramids there.

In 20 years, robots and computers will do/are going to do many jobs like teaching, accounting, and cleaning.

Chloe: It's Thanksgiving! Grandma will roast/is roasting a turkey again.

Amanda: What about her rhubarb crumble?

Chloe: She hasn't decided. I think she 'll  probably make/is probably making a

           pumpkin pie.

Kenji: We'll have/'re having a meeting on the 15th. I'll do/'m doing a sales presentation.

Sachi: Will you/Are you going to need the overhead projector?

Kenji: No, I won't/'m not going to need it. I'll use/'m using Power Point as usual.

Bonus Exercise: Write about your plans for next week in the comments section.

For more on this grammar point, you can watch the video below from EngVid.