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I'm having some troubles with the usage of will and going to in the future tense. I have searched this problem all over Google, but I can't seem to find the universal explanation (for example, one site says things 1 and 2, another site says things 2, 3 and 4, the third site says only things 2 and 3 etc.). I will be very grateful if somebody answers my question briefly and clearly, like this:

WILL Usage 1 - Usage 2 - Usage 3 - ... Example 1 - Example 2 - Example 3 - ...

GOING TO Usage 1 - Usage 2 - Usage 3 - ... Example 1 - Example 2 - Example 3 - ...

Also, have a look at the following sentence

Newspapers probably won't be used in the future because the Internet is slowly taking over.
OR
Newspapers probably aren't going to be used in the future because the Internet is slowly taking over

I feel like it should be ''won't be used''. I'm having doubts because it has ''probably'' (which they taught us indicates a prediction so we should use ''will'') and ''because the Internet is slowly taking over'' (which they taught us indicates connection to the future, clear evidence by which we can judge and use ''going to''). I hope I'm not asking for too much. Thank you in advance.

Mari-Lou A
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Luka
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    Generally, be going to (pronounced /ṃɡənə, zɡənə, ṛɡənə, wzɡənə, wṛɡənə/, depending on the subject pronoun) is used when something is imminent, and will when it's somewhat farther in the future, but certain. On a hiking trail, the only correct thing to say is Look out! That rock is going to fall! Saying That rock will fall is a prediction for sometime, but probly not now. Of course, if you said That rock is to fall you'd be saying it was on the schedule for a certain time. – John Lawler Mar 05 '15 at 00:15
  • @JohnLawler Another option would be That rock is about to fall! – Anonym Mar 05 '15 at 01:43
  • Right. There are always lots of options in English. – John Lawler Mar 05 '15 at 03:38
  • http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html has a decent summary. However, take into consideration that sometimes will; going to, and present continuous, can be interchangeable: Tomorrow I'm leaving; "Tomorrow I'm going to leave" and "Tomorrow I will leave"* all mean pretty much the same. – Mari-Lou A Mar 05 '15 at 06:15
  • Thank you all. I have edited the question, please re-read. – Luka Mar 05 '15 at 06:28
  • It's a pity you didn't make the edit sooner, your question now needs five votes before it can be reopened. The first one will be mine, but it won't be enough. – Mari-Lou A Mar 05 '15 at 06:35

1 Answers1

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I will go to school tomorrow.

I am going to school tomorrow.

I will be going to school tomorrow.

I am going to go to school tomorrow.

I am going to be going to school tomorrow.

"Going" is interesting, as it can both be the future tense conjugation of "to go (somewhere)", but also as a abstract future indication of action.

I am going to lie down.
I am going to go to bed to lie down.

English is confusing.

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