[Grammar] Two examples of going to vs. will...

[D.C. Foster]

I'm trying to help a student whose teacher has marked some test answers wrong but before I give her my opinion I wanted to check with the experts here to see what they think. I would like to know, in the following 2 examples, which answer is correct (will or going to):

1. "In 2020 people will buy more hybrid cars." vs. "In 2020 people are going to buy more hybrid cars."

2. "Philip will be 15 next Wednesday." or Philip is going to be 15 next Wednesday."

Also, could you please explain why we use one over the other. Thanks.

David

 

[emsr2d2]

I know other native speakers will disagree with me but, for me, both "will" and "going to" are fine in both of sentences. Perhaps "will" sounds a little more natural in the first but in the second sentence, they're both fine. You'll probably hear "gong to" more often in BrE when referring to age but that doesn't mean "will" is wrong.

I'm going to be 96 in February.
I'll be 96 in February.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I agree with ems. Both versions are correct in both cases.

 

[bhaisahab]

I agree with ems, too.

 

[SoothingDave]

In most cases, the two ways of forming the "future" are interchangeable.