Future Forms: Will vs. Going to – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Presentation Intro (Opening a presentation, outlining structures, and interacting with the audience).
Choose the best option (a, b, c, or d) to complete each sentence. Read the context carefully before making your choice.
1 Good morning, everyone. Today, I ______ talk about our new marketing strategy.
(a) will
(b) am going to
(c) am go to
(d) would
2 According to our plan, we ______ divide this presentation into three main parts.
(a) are going to
(b) will going to
(c) going to
(d) will
3 First, my partner Sarah ______ show you some pictures from our research.
(a) is going to
(b) goes to
(c) will
(d) is going
4 I have printed the handouts. I ______ pass them around the classroom right now.
(a) am going to
(b) will
(c) going to
(d) shouldn’t
5 The whole presentation ______ take exactly twenty minutes because we timed it yesterday.
(a) will taking
(b) is going to
(c) is go to
(d) will
6 “I can’t read the text on the slide from here.” – “Oh, I’m sorry! I ______ make it bigger for you.”
(a) am going to
(b) will
(c) will to
(d) can’t
7 If you have any questions, please wait. I promise I ______ answer all of them at the end.
(a) will
(b) am going to
(c) will answering
(d) must
8 Watch out! You ______ trip over that microphone cable!
(a) will
(b) are trip
(c) are going to
(d) will be
9 Next week, our class ______ present the final projects to the teachers. The schedule is already fixed.
(a) is going to
(b) will
(c) is going
(d) might
10 “Oh no, the projector just stopped working!” – “Don’t worry, I ______ call the IT department.”
(a) am going to
(b) am calling
(c) will
(d) will going
11 We have practiced this speech many times, so I believe we ______ do a great job today.
(a) will
(b) are going to
(c) will to
(d) are go to
12 After my introduction, John ______ explain the budget details. We agreed on this yesterday.
(a) going to
(b) is going to
(c) will
(d) has to
13 “Does anyone need a pen to take notes?” – “I do!” – “Here, I ______ lend you mine.”
(a) am going to
(b) am
(c) lend
(d) will
14 At the end of the meeting, we ______ have some coffee in the lobby. I ordered it this morning.
(a) will
(b) are having to
(c) are going to
(d) will have
15 We only have ten minutes left, so I ______ talk about the history of the company today.
(a) won’t to
(b) am not going to
(c) will not
(d) don’t going to
16 Do you think the teacher ______ give us a good grade for this presentation?
(a) is going to
(b) will
(c) will going to
(d) is giving
17 Look at the time! We only have one minute left. We ______ finish on time!
(a) aren’t going to
(b) won’t
(c) not going to
(d) shouldn’t
18 I ______ keep this introduction short so we can start the main activity quickly. You have my word.
(a) am going to
(b) will keep
(c) will
(d) will to
19 ______ use the whiteboard during your explanation, or just the slides?
(a) Are you going to
(b) Will you
(c) Do you going to
(d) Are you go to
20 We are running out of time, so I ______ skip the next two slides and jump to the conclusion.
(a) am going to
(b) will
(c) am go to
(d) have
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b)
Explanation:
- Correct (b): “am going to” is used for an intention or plan made before speaking (prepared presentation).
- Common Mistake (a): “will” is incorrect because the speaker already planned this topic before standing up to speak.
- Structural Error (c): “am go to” is missing the “-ing” form in “going”.
- Strong Distractor (d): “would” is grammatically okay but changes the meaning completely to a conditional or polite desire, not a future plan.
2 (a)
Explanation:
- Correct (a): “are going to” matches the plural subject “we” and indicates a carefully prepared plan (“According to our plan”).
- Common Mistake (d): “will” is for instant decisions, which contradicts the phrase “According to our plan”.
- Structural Error (b): “will going to” is a mixed, non-existent tense.
- Strong Distractor (c): “going to” is missing the “to be” verb (“are”).
3 (a)
Explanation:
- Correct (a): “is going to” shows Sarah’s planned role in the presentation.
- Common Mistake (c): “will” sounds like Sarah just spontaneously decided to show pictures right now.
- Structural Error (b): “goes to” is present simple, not a future intention structure.
- Strong Distractor (d): “is going” is grammatically missing “to” + base verb (show).
4 (a)
Explanation:
- Correct (a): “am going to”. The speaker already printed the handouts, showing this was a pre-planned action.
- Common Mistake (b): “will” would mean it’s an instant decision, but the context shows preparation (printed the handouts).
- Structural Error (c): “going to” lacks the “to be” verb (“am”).
- Strong Distractor (d): “shouldn’t” makes no logical sense in this context, even though grammatically possible.
5 (b)
Explanation:
- Correct (b): “is going to”. This is a prediction based on clear evidence from the past (“we timed it yesterday”).
- Common Mistake (d): “will” is a guess without evidence. Here, they have proof from practicing.
- Structural Error (a): “will taking” is grammatically incorrect (will + V-ing without “be”).
- Structural Error (c): “is go to” is the wrong form.
6 (b)
Explanation:
- Correct (b): “will” is used for spontaneous decisions made exactly at the moment of speaking (reacting to the audience’s complaint).
- Common Mistake (a): “am going to” implies the speaker planned to make it bigger before the person complained, which makes no sense.
- Structural Error (c): “will to” is grammatically incorrect (will + base verb, no “to”).
- Strong Distractor (d): “can’t” is grammatically fine but contextually rude and illogical for a helpful presenter.
7 (a)
Explanation:
- Correct (a): “will” is used for making promises (“I promise I will…”).
- Common Mistake (b): “am going to” is for plans, but “will” is strictly required when using verbs like “promise”.
- Structural Error (c): “will answering” uses the wrong verb form after a modal.
- Strong Distractor (d): “must” is a modal of obligation, not a future promise, changing the intended friendly tone.
8 (c)
Explanation:
- Correct (c): “are going to” is used for predictions based on immediate visual evidence (the person is about to step on the cable).
- Common Mistake (a): “will” is used for predictions based on opinions, not immediate physical evidence.
- Structural Error (b): “are trip” is grammatically incorrect.
- Structural Error (d): “will be” lacks the main verb (tripping) to make sense.
9 (a)
Explanation:
- Correct (a): “is going to”. The schedule is fixed, meaning it is a strong future plan.
- Common Mistake (b): “will” suggests it’s just a general thought or unconfirmed idea.
- Structural Error (c): “is going” needs “to + verb” (to present) to form the intention structure.
- Strong Distractor (d): “might” indicates a low possibility, which contradicts “The schedule is already fixed.”
10 (c)
Explanation:
- Correct (c): “will” is used for immediate reactions or spontaneous offers to help (“Don’t worry, I will…”).
- Common Mistake (a): “am going to” means the speaker planned to call IT before the projector broke, which is impossible.
- Structural Error (d): “will going” is incorrect grammar.
- Strong Distractor (b): “am calling” (Present Continuous for future) is used for arranged appointments, not instant reactions.
11 (b)
Explanation:
- Correct (b): “are going to” is used here as a prediction based on present evidence (the fact that they practiced a lot).
- Common Mistake (a): “will” is for predictions without evidence. Here, the practice is the evidence.
- Structural Error (c): “will to” is grammatically wrong.
- Structural Error (d): “are go to” is the wrong form.
12 (b)
Explanation:
- Correct (b): “is going to”. “We agreed on this yesterday” proves it is a pre-arranged plan.
- Common Mistake (c): “will” would imply John just decided to do it right now.
- Structural Error (a): “going to” is missing “is”.
- Strong Distractor (d): “has to” implies an obligation or force, losing the meaning of a collaborative future plan.
13 (d)
Explanation:
- Correct (d): “will” is used for a spontaneous offer at the moment of speaking.
- Common Mistake (a): “am going to” means the speaker brought the pen specifically to lend it to this exact person, which is unlikely.
- Structural Error (b): “am” requires “going to lend” to be correct.
- Structural Error (c): “lend” (Present Simple) cannot be used to make an immediate future offer.
14 (c)
Explanation:
- Correct (c): “are going to” expresses a prior plan (“I ordered it this morning”).
- Common Mistake (a): “will” is for spontaneous ideas. They didn’t just decide; the coffee is already ordered.
- Structural Error (b): “are having to” means “are forced to”, changing the meaning entirely.
- Strong Distractor (d): “will have” is a common trap for Vietnamese speakers who use “sẽ” for all future contexts regardless of planning.
15 (b)
Explanation:
- Correct (b): “am not going to” is the negative form of a plan (a conscious decision to skip the history part because of time).
- Common Mistake (c): “will not” sounds like a spontaneous refusal or promise, rather than a structured adjustment to the presentation plan.
- Structural Error (a): “won’t to” is incorrect grammar.
- Structural Error (d): “don’t going to” is grammatically incorrect.
16 (b)
Explanation:
- Correct (b): “will”. This is a prediction based purely on opinion or a guess, as they don’t know what the teacher is thinking.
- Common Mistake (a): “is going to” requires clear present evidence, which they don’t have.
- Structural Error (c): “will going to” is a mixed grammar error.
- Strong Distractor (d): “is giving” (Present Continuous) is for 100% confirmed future arrangements, which cannot apply to a teacher’s subjective grading yet to happen.
17 (a)
Explanation:
- Correct (a): “aren’t going to”. This is a negative prediction based on clear present evidence (only one minute left).
- Common Mistake (b): “won’t” is for general predictions without hard evidence.
- Structural Error (c): “not going to” is missing the “are” verb.
- Strong Distractor (d): “shouldn’t” means it’s not a good idea to finish on time, which is illogical.
18 (c)
Explanation:
- Correct (c): “will” is the standard form used when making a promise (“You have my word”).
- Common Mistake (a): “am going to” is for plans, but loses the strong emotional assurance of a promise.
- Structural Error (d): “will to” is incorrect grammar.
- Strong Distractor (b): “will keep” is grammatically correct but the sentence already has the main verb “keep” (“I ___ keep”), so adding another “keep” creates a duplication (“I will keep keep”).
19 (a)
Explanation:
- Correct (a): “Are you going to”. Asking someone about their intentions or preparations for their presentation.
- Common Mistake (b): “Will you” sounds like a request asking them to do a favor, rather than asking about their plan.
- Structural Error (c): “Do you going to” uses the wrong auxiliary verb.
- Structural Error (d): “Are you go to” uses the wrong verb form.
20 (b)
Explanation:
- Correct (b): “will” is used here because it is a spontaneous decision made precisely at the moment the speaker realizes they are running out of time.
- Common Mistake (a): “am going to” would mean the speaker planned to skip the slides from the very beginning, which contradicts the context.
- Structural Error (c): “am go to” is incorrect grammar.
- Strong Distractor (d): “have” needs “to” (have to skip) to show obligation, but without it, it’s grammatically incorrect.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 “Be going to” (The Planner)
- Intentions/Plans: Used for things you decided before speaking. In a presentation, use it for your prepared structure (e.g., I am going to talk about sales…).
- Evidence-based Predictions: Used when you can see or know something is about to happen right now (e.g., Look at the time, we are not going to finish!).
2 “Will” (The Spontaneous Helper)
- Instant Decisions: Used for decisions made at the exact moment of speaking (e.g., The mic is broken? I will fix it.).
- Promises/Offers: Used to help the audience or make a promise (e.g., I will answer questions at the end.).
- Opinion-based Predictions: Used when you guess the future without hard facts (e.g., I think the boss will like this.).