Cool MateWhat are you gonna do vs What will you do
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What are you gonna do
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
What will you do
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What will you doMost common: What will you do
| What are you gonna do | What will you do | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ɑː juː ˈɡənə duː//🇺🇸 //wɑt ɑr ju ˈɡənə du// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt wɪl juː dʊ//🇺🇸 //wɑt wɪl ju du// |
| Meaning | What will you do? | A question asking about someone's future actions. |
| Example | After lunch, what are you gonna do? | What will you do if it rains during the picnic? |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | gonna do something, gonna make plans, gonna hang out | do something, do a task, do a favor |
| Common mistakes | Using 'going' instead of 'gonna', Confusing the phrase with 'what are you going to do?', Forgetting to use a question mark | Confusing tense by using present instead of future., Omitting 'will' in the question., Using 'what do you do' instead of 'what will you do' for future plans. |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations to ask about a person's future plans. Avoid in formal settings. | Used to inquire about future plans or intentions. Appropriate in both casual and formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: What are you gonna do vs What will you do
What's the difference between What are you gonna do and What will you do?
What are you gonna do: What will you do? What will you do: A question asking about someone's future actions.
Which is more formal: What are you gonna do and What will you do?
What will you do is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: What are you gonna do and What will you do?
What will you do is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
What are you gonna do: After lunch, what are you gonna do? What will you do: What will you do if it rains during the picnic?
Can I use What are you gonna do and What will you do interchangeably?
Not always. What are you gonna do and What will you do are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.