Happy 2015!
The beginning of the year is all about making changes. Many choose to alter their eating habits, their exercise routine, or their attitude towards life. Others vow to change jobs, or cities, or make other significant changes. These changes, called resolutions, are a tradition for the beginning of January. But how do we express our resolutions about the future year? Do we use “will” or “be going to” for resolutions?
The answer? We can use both! Here is why:
Using “will” for resolutions
We use “will” for promises. Here are some examples:
- I will always love you (remember the Whitney Houston song?)
- I will never forget the fun times we had on vacation.
- She will be here on time. She always is.
Therefore, we can use “will” to express our resolutions, since resolutions are like promises we make to ourselves.
“This year, I will eat less junk food, I will love more, and I will be angry less.”
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Using “be going to” for resolutions
We use “be going to” for plans. Here are some examples:
- I am going to Taco Tuesday tomorrow. Want to come?
- He is going to Balboa Park in a few minutes, if you’d like a ride downtown.
- We are going to take the TOEFL test next month. Wish us luck!
Therefore, we can use “be going to” to express our resolutions, since resolutions are also plans for the coming year.
“This year, I am going to take care of myself, I am going to get more sleep, and I am going to relax more.”
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Common resolutions for 2015
What are some common resolutions for 2015? Twitter released a list and graphic of the most tweeted resolutions.
The last one, an expletive, means “don’t make mistakes.” We suggest using the phrasal verb “mess it up” rather than the curse word that is given.
Can you make these resolutions into full sentences?
CISL would like to wish you a happy, safe, and successful New Year. We hope that your resolution is to improve your English skills, and we are thankful to help you during this process of language learning!