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Mietz
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Grammar question will / going to ...
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I have a task on a worksheet where students have to decide which sentence is correct and I�m just not sure.
Is it:
Maybe I�m going to cook chicken pie for dinner. No, I think I�ll make omelette.
or:
Maybe I�ll cook chicken pie for dinner. No, I think I�ll make an omelette.
I know, that it has to be "an omelette", but what about the difference between "Maybe I�m going to cook chicken
pie for dinner." (could be planned) and "Maybe I�ll cook chicken pie for dinner." (spontaneously thinking about it???). 
What do you think? Thanks!
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11 Nov 2008
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jtdr
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Maybe sounds a bit strange with I am going...
If you are going to do sth you say so because it is your intention...and if it is your intention...you don�t say maybe. it is right, you use WILL for sudden decisions or future plans:
It is hot here...I�ll open the window.
to avoid doubts...get rid of that MAYBE and leave it like this:
I am going to cook chicken pie for dinner, No, I think I�ll make....
You had an intention that you changed for a sudden decision
This way your students will understand the difference better.
I hope you understand my explanation...I am bit thick today...
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11 Nov 2008
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missundaztood_74
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when you use the verb think
or when you say that maybe you are going to do something, which is an idea but not a fixed plan you have to use will instead of going to,
so i have to say that i agree with jtdr 
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11 Nov 2008
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Mietz
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Thanks so much! I can�t take out the "maybe" (too late - we�ve already used the worksheet), but I think the explanations you gave are fine.
I did also ask a native speaker (Scottish) - who wasn�t feeling very well :-( - and he said both are / sound fine. Hence my confusion.
I think I�ll stick ( I�m going to stick 8-)...) to your explanation tomorrow morning. :-)
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11 Nov 2008
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Zora
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Both are correct:
The first one would mostly likely be used in a situation where:
You�ve been toying all morning with the idea of making the chicken pie, so it is actually a plan... even if it sounds like it might be a split decision thing because you suddenly decide to change your mind and make something else...
And the other is just a split decision thing... shall I make the pie or not, ho hum...
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11 Nov 2008
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Mietz
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Thanks Zora - f! So the not so well Scotsman was right ;-) ...
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11 Nov 2008
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missundaztood_74
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that is very interesting
it is great to know both of them are correct
Thank god we have native speakers around !!
lol
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11 Nov 2008
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Zora
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lol... yes, he was... 
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11 Nov 2008
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jtdr
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ZORA...It sounds a bit strange that
Maybe I�m going to cook chicken pie for dinner.
what shocks me a bit is MAYBE I AM GOING TO...
But if you say so...you are the native. However I would like to check it with Randolph Quirk�s "A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language"
Thanks a lot anyway
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11 Nov 2008
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Zora
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Check it out it you like... but you can say "Maybe/Perhaps, I am going to...." - it is said and means that you plan to something but you aren�t 100% sure about it for whatever reason...therefore you might or might not end up doing it...
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11 Nov 2008
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jtdr
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I was convinced by that explanation...thanks a lot Zora. I will not refer to Quirk�s...you made me save a lot of time.Thanks again.
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11 Nov 2008
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