Cool MateWhat will you do vs What you gonna do
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What will you do
Top 2,000 (common)
What you gonna do
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What will you do
| What will you do | What you gonna do | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt wɪl juː dʊ//🇺🇸 //wɑt wɪl ju du// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt jʊ ˈɡənə dʊ//🇺🇸 //wɑt jə ˈɡɑnə du// |
| Meaning | A question asking about someone's future actions. | What are you going to do? |
| Example | What will you do if it rains during the picnic? | So, what you gonna do after school? |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | do something, do a task, do a favor | What you gonna do next, What you gonna do now, What you gonna do later |
| Common mistakes | 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. | Using 'what you gonna do' without context is vague., Confusing it with 'what are you going to do,' which is more formal., Omitting the subject and verb in more formal writing. |
| Usage notes | Used to inquire about future plans or intentions. Appropriate in both casual and formal settings. | Used in casual conversation to ask about someone's plans. Not suitable for formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: What will you do vs What you gonna do
What's the difference between What will you do and What you gonna do?
What will you do: A question asking about someone's future actions. What you gonna do: What are you going to do?
Which is more formal: What will you do and What you gonna do?
What will you do is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
What will you do: What will you do if it rains during the picnic? What you gonna do: So, what you gonna do after school?
Can I use What will you do and What you gonna do interchangeably?
Not always. What will you do and What you gonna 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.