Page 226 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

future (8): will/shall, going to and present progressive (advanced points) 218
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- You won't believe this.
You're not going to believe this.
- Next year will be different.
Next year is going to be different.
- John will explain everything to you. John's going to explain everything to you.
Both going to ... (see 213) and stressed will (see 217.2) can express a strong intention or detennination.
I'm really going to stop smoking! I really will stop smoking!
In cases like these, the different fonns are all correct, and it is unimportant which one is chosen.
official arrangements
Will is often used, rather than present forms, in giving infonnation about impersonal, fixed arrangements - for example official itineraries. Compare:
We're meeting Sandra at 6.00.
The Princess will arrive at the airport at 14.00. She will meet the President at
14.30, and will then attend a performance oftraditional dances.
predictions as orders
Predictions can be used as a way of giving orders - instead of telling somebody to do something, the speaker just says firmly that it will happen. This is common in military-style orders.
The regiment will attack at dawn.
You will start work at six o'clock sharp.
different meanings of will you ... ?
With a verb referring to a state, willyou ...?asks for infonnation. How soon will you know your holiday dates?
Will you be here next week?
With a verb referring to an action, will you . ..? usually introduces an order or request (see 217.6).
Will you tum offthat music!
Will you do the shopping this afternoon, please?
To ask for information about planned actions, we use a present fonn (see 213- 214) or the future progressive (see 220).
When are you going to see Andy?
Are you doing the shopping this afternoon? Will you be doing the shopping . ..?
expressing certainty about the present or past
We can use will to talk about the present - to say what we think is probably or certainly the case.
There's somebody at the door. - That'll be the postman. Don't phone them now - they'll be having dinner.
Will have . .. can express similar ideas about the past.
As you wiU have noticed, there is a new secretary in the front office.
It's no use expecting Barry to turn up. He'll have forgotten. For more about this and other uses of will, see 629.
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