1. Social Function & Definition
Expressing Intention is used to declare plans, desires, ambitions, goals, and arrangements that one intends to carry out in the future.
Figure 7.1: Formulas for expressing future intentions and ambitions.
2. Three Key Grammatical Patterns
1. S + would like to + V1 --> I would like to specialize in cloud computing.
2. S + am/is/are + going to + V1 --> We are going to deploy the server tomorrow.
3. S + will + V1 --> I will assist you with the cable crimping.
2. S + am/is/are + going to + V1 --> We are going to deploy the server tomorrow.
3. S + will + V1 --> I will assist you with the cable crimping.
| Pattern | Nuance & Context | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Would like to | Polite wish / Career ambition | "I would like to work as a DevOps engineer." |
| Be going to | Pre-arranged plan / Strong intention | "They are going to upgrade the fiber optic core." |
| Will | Spontaneous reaction / Promise | "I'll check the router logs right now." |
🎯 Learning Takeaways:
- Differentiate between be going to (planned prior to speaking) and will (decided at the moment of speaking).
- Always follow would like to and going to with an infinitive base verb (Verb 1).