'Will' or 'be going to'?

Exercise 1: Put in 'will' or 'be going to'.

1. A: We don't have any bread.

B: I know. I __________________ get some from the shop.

2. A: We don't have any bread.

B: Really? I __________________ get some from the shop then.

3. A: Why do you need to borrow my suitcase?

B: I __________________ visit my mother in Scotland next month.

4. A: I'm really cold.

B: I __________________ turn the heating on.

5. A: Are you going to John's party tonight?

B: Yes. Are you going too? I __________________ give you a lift.
6. A: What are your plans after you leave university?
B: I __________________ work in a hospital in Africa. I leave on the 28th

7. (The phone rings)

A: I __________________ get it!

8. A: Are you ready to order?

B: I can't decide … Okay, I __________________ have the steak, please.

9. A: Are you busy tonight? Would you like to have coffee?

B: Sorry. I __________________ go to the library. I've been planning to study all day.

10. A: Why are you carrying a hammer?

B: I __________________ put up some pictures.

Exercise 2: Read the following sentences and add another one using “going to” and your
own ideas.

Ex. She has a bad toothache

She’s going to call the dentist or She’s going to take a aspirin

1. He doesn’t understand the meaning of that word.

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2. She wants to see a new movie but doesn't know what time it starts.
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3. Bill wants to change jobs.

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4. Grandma feels very tired.

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5. Carla is making a cake and just ran out of sugar.

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6. Howard needs to mail a package.

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 “Going to” making predictions

What is going to happen?

Exercise 3: Match the sentences on the left with the words on the right. Then write the
complete sentence below using the future tense.

_D_ 1. I didn't study for the test. A. take the next plane
___ 2. He's driving too fast. B. have a backache.
___ 3. Frank always eats too much. C. rain.
___ 4. He forgot to return his books to the library. D. fail.
___ 5. There are large black clouds in the sky. E.Call a service station.
___ 6. Mr. and Mrs Brown missed their flight. F. Get a stomachache.
___ 7. Philip has a fever G. sink
___ 8. Ellen and Bob are buying a lot of food and wine. H . have an accident
___ 9. Mary is lifting very heavy boxes. I. take an aspirin
___ 10. The boat is full of water. J. break her leg
___ 11. Mark just ate four big hamburgers. K. have a party
___ 12. Christine is a terrible skier. L. get fat
___ 13. Her car broke down. M. have to pay a fine

1. I didn’t study for the test. I’m going to fail.

2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________________
7. _______________________________________________________________
8. _______________________________________________________________
9. _______________________________________________________________
10. _______________________________________________________________
11. _______________________________________________________________
12. _______________________________________________________________
13. _______________________________________________________________

Exercise 4: We often use “will” for future prediction with we use the word “probably”

For each of the situations below, predict something that will probably happen or something
that will probably not happen.

Ex: Bob It's going to take his driver’s test tomorrow. He didn't practice.
He’ll probably fail or He probably won’t pass the test.

1. It's raining, George doesn't have an umbrella.

2. Andy has a very bad cold.

3. Nora didn't sleep well last night.

 4. Phil loves movies . There is a new movie playing at the theater tonight.

5. Hannah ate too much dessert last night and now she has a stomachache.

Exercise 5: Look at these situations and decide on ways to respond using will or be
going to.

1. You look out of the window and notice there are a lot of stormy, black clouds in the
sky. What do you say?

Example: We are going to need an umbrella.

2. Your friend Oscar is interested in music and in physics, but he can’t decide which
one to major in next year. After a lot of thought and discussion, he has finally
decided to major in music. What does he say to his family?
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3. Your friend is organizing an international potluck. She needs people to bring food
from different countries. You want to help. What will you promise to do? What are you going
to bring or cook?
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4. It’s 6:30 A.M. You have to drive to the airport to pick up your uncle at 7:30 A.M., but
your car won’t start. Your roommate offers to lend you hers, but she needs to have it
back by 9:00 A.M. to get to work. What do you tell her?
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5. You are standing in line in the campus cafeteria. You notice that the backpack of the
student in front of you is open and all her books are about to fall out. What do you
tell her?
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6. One of your classmates is sick and has to go to the doctor’s office. He is very worried
about missing his history class. You are also in that class. What can you say to
reassure him?
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7. Your friend Frank loves ballet. He has just bought the last ticket for a special gala
performance of Swan Lake next Saturday night. You ask him about his plans for the
weekend. What does he say?
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