Will vs Going To Exercises
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Will or going to?
Use will when you decide something now, offer, promise or ask someone to do something. Use going to when you decided before, or when you can see what is going to happen.
- will: a decision now:
- You decide at the moment you speak: Tea or coffee? — I'll have tea.
- going to: a plan from before:
- You decided earlier: I'm going to start a new job in May.
- will: offers, promises, requests:
- I'll help you. I won't be late. Will you close the door, please?
- going to: you can see it now:
- Something you see now shows the future: Look at the clouds. It's going to rain.
- Opinions about the future:
- Both are possible. Will is very common with I think, I'm sure and probably: I think you'll like it. It'll probably rain.
- Form:
- will / won't + base verb. am / is / are (not) going to + base verb.
Examples
We don't have any bread. — OK, I'll buy some on the way home.
Decision at the moment of speaking: will.
I'm going to learn to drive this year. I have my first lesson next week.
A plan made before now: going to.
That box looks heavy. I'll carry it for you.
An offer: will.
I promise I won't forget your birthday again.
A promise: won't (will not).
Look at the score! Our team is going to win.
You can see it now: going to.
I think you'll love this film.
An opinion about the future, often with I think: will.
Audio uses a synthetic voice.
Practice exercises
Will or going to?
Read the situation and choose the best answer.
1.It's very dark in here. — Wait, I ___ the light on.
2.I bought some paint yesterday. I ___ my bedroom this weekend.
3.Look! She is driving very fast on a wet road. She ___ an accident.
4.You look cold. — Here, I ___ you my jacket.
5.Why are you wearing your running shoes? — I ___ for a run in the park.
6.I'm sorry I'm late. I promise it ___ again.
7.___ you open the door for me, please? My hands are full.
8.We have our plane tickets. We ___ our grandmother in Mexico in July.
Complete with will or going to
Type the verb with will or going to. Short forms like 'll and 're are fine.
Correct the mistake
Choose the wrong words and type the correction.
17.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
18.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
19.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
20.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
21.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
Put the words in order
Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.
22. Build the sentence:
23. Build the sentence:
24. Build the sentence:
25. Build the sentence:
True or false?
Decide if each statement is true or false.
26.We use will for a decision we make at the moment of speaking.
27."I'm going to visit my aunt on Sunday" shows a plan made before now.
28.After will, we use the -ing form: "I will helping you."
29."Look at that ice! You're going to fall" uses going to because you can see the danger now.
Will vs going to: how to choose
Will and going to both talk about the future, but they do not always mean the same thing. To choose, ask yourself one question: did I decide this before, or am I deciding now?
If you decide now, use will. Your friend says, "We don't have any bread," and you answer, "I'll buy some." You did not have this plan before. Will is also the form for offers ("I'll carry that for you"), promises ("I won't tell anyone") and requests ("Will you help me?").
If you decided before, use going to. "I'm going to learn to drive this year" means you already have this plan. Maybe you have a teacher or a first lesson next week. Going to also works when you can see the future now: when the sky is very dark, you say, "It's going to rain."
For opinions about the future, both forms are possible, and the difference is small. Many people use will with I think, I'm sure and probably: "I think you'll love this film."
Remember the form: will and won't take the base verb ("She will call"), and going to needs am, is or are before it ("They are going to call"). A common mistake is to use both together: say "I'm going to call" or "I'll call", not "I will going to call". When you are ready, practise all four future forms together on the Future Tenses Exercises page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between will and going to?
Use will for a decision you make while you speak, and for offers, promises and requests. Use going to for a plan you made before, and for something you can see is going to happen.
Are will and going to ever both correct?
Yes. For opinions about the future, both are possible: "I think it will be hot tomorrow" and "I think it's going to be hot tomorrow". Will is very common with I think, I'm sure and probably.
How do I make negatives and questions?
With will: "I won't be late." "Will you help me?" With going to: "She isn't going to come." "Are you going to call him?" The verb after both forms is the base verb.
What does "gonna" mean?
"Gonna" is how many people say "going to" in fast, informal speech: "I'm gonna call you." Write "going to" in exams and formal writing.
What about the present continuous for the future?
For a plan with other people and a fixed time, English often uses the present continuous: "I'm meeting Ana at six." The Future Tenses Exercises page practises will, going to, the present continuous and the present simple together.
Answer key
1. It's very dark in here. — Wait, I ___ the light on.
Answer: will turn
The speaker decides at this moment, so use will: I'll turn the light on.
2. I bought some paint yesterday. I ___ my bedroom this weekend.
Answer: am going to paint
The plan started yesterday, when the speaker bought the paint, so use going to.
3. Look! She is driving very fast on a wet road. She ___ an accident.
Answer: is going to have
We can see the danger now, so going to is the best choice.
4. You look cold. — Here, I ___ you my jacket.
Answer: will give
This is an offer, made at the moment of speaking, so use will.
5. Why are you wearing your running shoes? — I ___ for a run in the park.
Answer: am going to go
The speaker decided before putting on the shoes, so use going to.
6. I'm sorry I'm late. I promise it ___ again.
Answer: won't happen
A promise uses will or won't: it won't happen again.
7. ___ you open the door for me, please? My hands are full.
Answer: Will
A request uses Will you + base verb.
8. We have our plane tickets. We ___ our grandmother in Mexico in July.
Answer: are going to visit
The tickets show a plan made before, so use going to.
9. There's someone at the door. — OK, I ___ it.
Answer: will open
A decision at the moment of speaking takes will: I'll open it.
10. Tom saved money all year. Now he ___ a new laptop.
Answer: is going to buy
Tom made the plan before, so use going to: he is going to buy.
11. Look! The baby's eyes are closing. She ___ asleep.
Answer: is going to fall
You can see it now, so use going to: she is going to fall asleep.
12. Don't worry about your dog. I ___ him while you're away.
Answer: will walk
This is an offer, so use will: I'll walk him.
13. We decided this morning: we ___ pizza for dinner tonight.
Answer: are going to make
The plan was made this morning, before now, so use going to.
14. Chicken or fish? — I ___ the fish, please.
Answer: will have
You choose at the moment of speaking, so use will: I'll have the fish.
15. Sam ___ to the party. He says he's too busy.
Answer: isn't going to come
Sam already told us his plan, so use the negative of going to: he isn't going to come.
16. I ___ you tomorrow, I promise.
Answer: will call
A promise uses will: I'll call you tomorrow.
17. We are going visit our cousins next week.
Answer: We are going to visit our cousins next week.
Going to always has to before the base verb: going to visit.
18. She will to call you later.
Answer: She will call you later.
After will, use the base verb without to: will call. You can also say: she is going to call.
19. They is going to buy a new car.
Answer: They are going to buy a new car.
With they, use are: they are going to buy.
20. Are you going to watching the match tonight?
Answer: Are you going to watch the match tonight?
After going to, use the base verb: going to watch.
21. I will going to call you tonight.
Answer: I am going to call you tonight.
Use will or going to, not both: I am going to call you, or I will call you.
22. is / going to / she / cook / dinner tonight
Answer: she is going to cook dinner tonight
Subject + is + going to + base verb.
23. will / I / the window / open
Answer: I will open the window
Subject + will + base verb.
24. going to / are / what / you / do / ?
Answer: what are you going to do ?
Questions about plans: what + are + you + going to + base verb.
25. won't / I / tell / anyone / your secret
Answer: I won't tell anyone your secret
A negative promise: subject + won't + base verb.
26. We use will for a decision we make at the moment of speaking.
Answer: True
True. Example: The phone is ringing. — I'll answer it.
27. "I'm going to visit my aunt on Sunday" shows a plan made before now.
Answer: True
True. Going to shows that you decided before you speak.
28. After will, we use the -ing form: "I will helping you."
Answer: False
False. After will, use the base verb: I will help you.
29. "Look at that ice! You're going to fall" uses going to because you can see the danger now.
Answer: True
True. Something you can see now shows the future, so use going to.