Will / be going to

Will / be going to
Message from rafanadal posted on 10-04-2016 at 11:18:35 (D | E | F)
Hi there.
I have a doubt about the following exercise aimed at teaching the difference between will/be going to and the present continuous to speak about the future.
The learner is asked to fill the empty space in the conversation between two friends, which goes like this:
ALAN: ........(I/make) a cup of coffee
PATRICK.......(you/make) a cup for me too?
My attempt is:
I'm going to make a cup of coffee.
Will you make one for me too?
But I'm not 100% sure it is correct.

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Edited by lucile83 on 10-04-2016 17:23

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Re: Will / be going to from gerondif, posted on 10-04-2016 at 13:28:47 (D | E)
Hello,
I would probably do the same as you.
going to expresses a near future and an intention to do something.
Will you do one for me ? is a weak form of Do you want to make one for me, would you mind making one for me, where will is a little bit closer to a modal auxiliary verb expressing will, a distant cousin of "wollen" in German.
Will you stop that now ? is an order in fact.
Make one for me, will you ? would be more direct, not so muffled as an order.

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Re: Will / be going to from rafanadal, posted on 10-04-2016 at 17:02:43 (D | E)
Thank you Gerondif

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Re: Will / be going to from landaetarun, posted on 13-04-2016 at 22:51:38 (D | E)
Hello,
Well, I know that you use will to make predictions about future, but not to talk about plans, and you use going to to make predictions about future, and also to talk about plans.
I hope it can help you.

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