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5.14 Modals to express predictions: BE GOING TO, WILL

BE GOING TO

Be going to is used to predict future events that are very near (and can be seen) or seem sure to happen. Such predictions are based on present evidence:

I'm going to faint.
Look at the clouds; it's going to rain.
My sister is going to have a baby.

WILL

The modal will (the future simple tense) is used to make predictions that are based on personal judgement, opinion or intuition, and not on present evidence. Whether or not the event will happen is not certain. Such predictions are often introduced by I think / I don't think:

I don't think he'll come tonight.
I predict that Congress will pass an anti-piracy law soon.
If you ask him, he'll probably give you a lift.

In the first person, shall can be used instead of will in formal styles:

Whatever happens, we shall always be best friends.