Will Vs Be going to

will = aller au futur


He will go to Paris with her.

-> Il ira à Paris avec elle.


be going to = aller au présent + Verbe à l'infinitif


He is going to sleep in a minute.

-> Il va dormir dans une minute.


In english, WILL is used to express the future, BE GOING TO the near future.

In french, the verbe in the future tense indicates the future, and ALLER (present) + verbe à l'infinitif indicates the near future too.


The rule above is always true, but you can also use the verb in present tense to indicate the future in french. Look at the example below :

I am leaving for Australia in a week.

-> Je pars pour l'Australie dans une semaine. (pars = partir au présent)

I am going to the cinema in an hour.

-> Je vais au cinéma dans une heure. (vais = aller au présent)


So as you see you have many ways to express the future, being the near or far future. :-)