Future Forms: Will vs. Going to – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Making a Promise (Confirming deadlines and assuring bosses or teachers).
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 Teacher: “Don’t forget to submit your essay by Friday.”
Student: “I promise I ______ send it to you tomorrow morning.”
(A) am going to
(B) will
(C) will to
(D) have to
2 Boss: “We need the sales report before the big meeting.”
Employee: “Don’t worry, sir. I ______ finish it tonight.”
(A) might
(B) am going to
(C) will finishing
(D) will
3 Teacher: “Please be on time for the test tomorrow.”
Student: “I ______ be late, I promise.”
(A) won’t to
(B) shouldn’t
(C) am not going to
(D) won’t
4 Boss: “Remember to call the client back as soon as possible.”
Employee: “Yes, I ______ call him right after my lunch break.”
(A) will calling
(B) will
(C) should
(D) am going to
5 Teacher: “You need to read Chapter 5 for homework.”
Student: “Okay, teacher. I ______ read it tonight.”
(A) could
(B) am going to
(C) will
(D) will reads
6 Boss: “Make sure the presentation has no spelling mistakes.”
Employee: “I ______ check it twice before I send it to the investors.”
(A) am going to
(B) would
(C) will
(D) am will
7 Teacher: “If you don’t practice, you will fail the speaking test.”
Student: “I know. I promise I ______ practice with my partner every day.”
(A) will
(B) will practicing
(C) can
(D) am going to
8 Boss: “The clients are waiting for the updated contract. Is it ready?”
Employee: “Almost. I ______ email it to them in exactly five minutes.”
(A) must
(B) am going to
(C) will
(D) will emails
9 Teacher: “Your handwriting is very hard to read in this essay.”
Student: “I am sorry. I ______ write more carefully in the next exam.”
(A) am going to
(B) will
(C) will to write
(D) used to
10 Boss: “Don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave the office.”
Employee: “I ______, sir. You have my word.”
(A) do
(B) am going to
(C) will turning
(D) will
11 Teacher: “You missed the last two homework assignments.”
Student: “I’m so sorry. I ______ bring all of them on Monday, I swear.”
(A) will
(B) may
(C) going to
(D) am going to
12 Boss: “This project is very important for our company.”
Employee: “I know. I promise we ______ let you down.”
(A) won’t
(B) mustn’t
(C) aren’t going to
(D) don’t will
13 Teacher: “Please do not talk while I am explaining the lesson.”
Student: “Sorry, teacher. It ______ happen again.”
(A) doesn’t
(B) isn’t going to
(C) won’t
(D) won’t to
14 Boss: “I need you to work overtime this weekend to finish the budget.”
Employee: “No problem. I ______ be here on Saturday morning.”
(A) will being
(B) will
(C) am
(D) am going to
15 Teacher: “Are you sure you can finish the research by next week?”
Student: “Yes, I give you my word that I ______ complete it on time.”
(A) will
(B) am going to
(C) have to
(D) will completed
16 Boss: “I am worried about the delivery delay from our suppliers.”
Employee: “I ______ call them immediately and fix the issue.”
(A) am calling
(B) will to call
(C) am going to
(D) will
17 Teacher: “Your group hasn’t chosen a topic for the presentation yet.”
Student: “We ______ decide on one by the end of the day, I assure you.”
(A) ought to
(B) are going to
(C) will
(D) will deciding
18 Boss: “If this error happens again, we will lose the client.”
Employee: “I understand the situation. I ______ double-check all the files from now on.”
(A) should
(B) will
(C) will double-checks
(D) am going to
19 Teacher: “Remember that late submissions will receive a zero.”
Student: “Understood. I ______ submit mine before 11:59 PM.”
(A) will to submit
(B) am going to
(C) will
(D) might
20 Boss: “I need someone to take responsibility for this new account.”
Employee: “I ______ do it! I promise to handle it with care.”
(A) will
(B) am going to
(C) can
(D) will doing
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) will
Why it’s correct: “Will” is used to make promises (“I promise I will…”).
Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; learners often use “am going to” for future actions, but it shows a plan, not a promise. (C) is a Structural Error (will + to verb is wrong). (D) is a Strong Distractor; “have to” means obligation, which changes the meaning from a personal promise to a forced rule.
2 (D) will
Why it’s correct: The employee is making a spontaneous commitment to reassure the boss.
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; “am going to” lacks the reassuring, promising tone. (C) is a Structural Error (will + V-ing). (A) is a Strong Distractor; “might” means maybe, which will definitely not make the boss happy!
3 (D) won’t
Why it’s correct: “Won’t” (will not) is used for a negative promise.
Error Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake (negative plan, not a promise). (A) is a Structural Error (won’t + to). (B) is a Strong Distractor; “shouldn’t” means “I am not supposed to be late,” which is not a strong promise.
4 (B) will
Why it’s correct: A direct commitment/promise to the boss.
Error Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake. (A) is a Structural Error. (C) is a Strong Distractor; “should” means it’s a good idea to call, but it doesn’t guarantee the employee will actually do it.
5 (C) will
Why it’s correct: An immediate promise made to the teacher upon receiving an instruction.
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error (will + verb with ‘s’). (A) is a Strong Distractor; “could” means ability, not a firm promise.
6 (C) will
Why it’s correct: A personal guarantee to double-check the work.
Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error (am + will). (B) is a Strong Distractor; “would” is used for conditionals or past habits, not future promises.
7 (A) will
Why it’s correct: The phrase “I promise” must be followed by “will”.
Error Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake. (B) is a Structural Error. (C) is a Strong Distractor; “can” shows ability, but doesn’t express a commitment.
8 (C) will
Why it’s correct: Spontaneous promise/offer to act immediately (“in exactly five minutes”).
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error. (A) is a Strong Distractor; “must” shows obligation, but “will” is needed for the action of promising the boss.
9 (B) will
Why it’s correct: Making a promise to improve behavior in the future.
Error Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake. (C) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Strong Distractor; “used to” refers to past habits, which makes no sense here.
10 (D) will
Why it’s correct: “You have my word” means “I promise”, requiring “will”.
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (C) is a Structural Error. (A) is a Strong Distractor; “do” is present simple, but a future promise is needed.
11 (A) will
Why it’s correct: “I swear” is a strong promise, requiring “will”.
Error Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake. (C) is a Structural Error (missing “am”). (B) is a Strong Distractor; “may” shows 50% possibility, which is a terrible response when apologizing to a teacher.
12 (A) won’t
Why it’s correct: A negative promise (“will not let you down”).
Error Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error (double auxiliary). (B) is a Strong Distractor; “mustn’t” is a prohibition, not a personal promise.
13 (C) won’t
Why it’s correct: Guaranteeing that a bad action will not be repeated.
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error. (A) is a Strong Distractor; “doesn’t” is present simple, but the promise is about the future.
14 (B) will
Why it’s correct: Making a commitment to be present.
Error Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake. (A) is a Structural Error. (C) is a Strong Distractor; “am” is present simple, but the context is Saturday morning (future).
15 (A) will
Why it’s correct: “I give you my word” directly signals a promise.
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error (will + past tense). (C) is a Strong Distractor; “have to” means “I am forced to”, not “I promise to”.
16 (D) will
Why it’s correct: An instant decision and promise to fix an immediate problem for the boss.
Error Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake. (B) is a Structural Error. (A) is a Strong Distractor; “am calling” is present continuous for arrangements, but this is a spontaneous reaction to the boss’s worry.
17 (C) will
Why it’s correct: “I assure you” signals a promise to the teacher.
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error. (A) is a Strong Distractor; “ought to” means “should”, which doesn’t give the teacher a firm guarantee.
18 (B) will
Why it’s correct: A strong commitment to change future behavior after a warning.
Error Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake. (C) is a Structural Error. (A) is a Strong Distractor; “should” lacks the certainty of a promise.
19 (C) will
Why it’s correct: Acknowledging a rule and promising to follow it.
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (A) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Strong Distractor; “might” means maybe, which would result in a zero!
20 (A) will
Why it’s correct: Volunteering for a task and making a promise (“I promise to handle it”).
Error Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error. (C) is a Strong Distractor; “can” just states ability (“I am able to do it”), but “will” states intention and commitment (“I volunteer and promise to do it”).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 “Will” (The Promise Maker): In English, whenever you need to reassure someone, make a promise, or swear to do something, you must use “will” (or “won’t” for negatives).
- Clue words: I promise, I swear, you have my word, I assure you, don’t worry.
- Example: “Don’t worry, boss. I will finish the report.”
2 Why not “Be going to”? (The Common Mistake):
Many learners use “be going to” for everything in the future. However, “be going to” simply states a plan or intention you had before speaking. It does not carry the emotional weight of a promise. If your boss is worried and you say, “I am going to do it,” it sounds like a casual fact rather than a strong commitment to help them.
3 Instant Decisions:
When a teacher or boss brings up a sudden problem, your immediate reaction to fix it is considered a spontaneous decision. “Will” is always used for decisions made at the exact moment of speaking.