Difference between “I will ____” and “I'm going to ____”?












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My ESL friend and I were talking, and he was ready to go to sleep, so he said "I'll go to sleep!", and I corrected him to "I'm going to sleep", but I couldn't explain why. Does anyone know?










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    My ESL friend and I were talking, and he was ready to go to sleep, so he said "I'll go to sleep!", and I corrected him to "I'm going to sleep", but I couldn't explain why. Does anyone know?










    share|improve this question



























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      My ESL friend and I were talking, and he was ready to go to sleep, so he said "I'll go to sleep!", and I corrected him to "I'm going to sleep", but I couldn't explain why. Does anyone know?










      share|improve this question
















      My ESL friend and I were talking, and he was ready to go to sleep, so he said "I'll go to sleep!", and I corrected him to "I'm going to sleep", but I couldn't explain why. Does anyone know?







      word-choice tenses






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      edited 9 mins ago









      Laurel

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      33.6k667118










      asked Jul 15 '16 at 18:27









      Christopher ShrobaChristopher Shroba

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          It depends when your friend said it.



          I will go to sleep means that eventually you plan on sleeping.



          I am going to sleep means you are currently in the process of "going to sleep".



          Therefore, if your friend said "I'll go to sleep" and was not in the process of doing so, then he was correct.



          However, if your friend was on his way to bed, or was on the couch attempting to fall asleep, then you were correct.





          I'd also like to add that in casual conversation, people who say "I'm going to sleep" imply that they want to go to sleep (not that they're currently on their way to do so).






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            1














            It depends when your friend said it.



            I will go to sleep means that eventually you plan on sleeping.



            I am going to sleep means you are currently in the process of "going to sleep".



            Therefore, if your friend said "I'll go to sleep" and was not in the process of doing so, then he was correct.



            However, if your friend was on his way to bed, or was on the couch attempting to fall asleep, then you were correct.





            I'd also like to add that in casual conversation, people who say "I'm going to sleep" imply that they want to go to sleep (not that they're currently on their way to do so).






            share|improve this answer






























              1














              It depends when your friend said it.



              I will go to sleep means that eventually you plan on sleeping.



              I am going to sleep means you are currently in the process of "going to sleep".



              Therefore, if your friend said "I'll go to sleep" and was not in the process of doing so, then he was correct.



              However, if your friend was on his way to bed, or was on the couch attempting to fall asleep, then you were correct.





              I'd also like to add that in casual conversation, people who say "I'm going to sleep" imply that they want to go to sleep (not that they're currently on their way to do so).






              share|improve this answer




























                1












                1








                1







                It depends when your friend said it.



                I will go to sleep means that eventually you plan on sleeping.



                I am going to sleep means you are currently in the process of "going to sleep".



                Therefore, if your friend said "I'll go to sleep" and was not in the process of doing so, then he was correct.



                However, if your friend was on his way to bed, or was on the couch attempting to fall asleep, then you were correct.





                I'd also like to add that in casual conversation, people who say "I'm going to sleep" imply that they want to go to sleep (not that they're currently on their way to do so).






                share|improve this answer















                It depends when your friend said it.



                I will go to sleep means that eventually you plan on sleeping.



                I am going to sleep means you are currently in the process of "going to sleep".



                Therefore, if your friend said "I'll go to sleep" and was not in the process of doing so, then he was correct.



                However, if your friend was on his way to bed, or was on the couch attempting to fall asleep, then you were correct.





                I'd also like to add that in casual conversation, people who say "I'm going to sleep" imply that they want to go to sleep (not that they're currently on their way to do so).







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                edited Sep 18 '16 at 17:25









                tchrist

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                109k30293469










                answered Jul 15 '16 at 18:32









                OthyaOthya

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                1,13321023






























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