Future Forms: Will vs. Going to – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Warning of Danger (You are sitting on the back of a friend’s motorbike. They are driving too fast towards a busy intersection, and you must warn them of the immediate danger).
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Read the context carefully before making your choice.
1 Look out! You are driving way too fast. We ______ crash!
(A) will
(B) are going to
(C) going to
(D) should
2 The traffic light is already red! You ______ hit those cars if you don’t brake now!
(A) are go to
(B) have to
(C) are going to
(D) will
3 Slow down! That dog is standing in the middle of the road. We ______ hit it!
(A) are going to
(B) will
(C) going
(D) can
4 Watch out! The road is turning sharply. You ______ lose control of the motorbike!
(A) must
(B) are going
(C) will
(D) are going to
5 Look at that big truck! It ______ turn left right in front of us!
(A) will
(B) is going to
(C) is going
(D) ought to
6 “I can’t stop, the brakes are not working well!” – “Oh no, we ______ have a terrible accident!”
(A) are going to
(B) going to
(C) will
(D) are having to
7 The road is very wet and slippery here. We ______ fall if you don’t slow down immediately.
(A) will
(B) don’t have to
(C) are going to
(D) will going to
8 Look at those people crossing the street! They ______ stop for us!
(A) not going to
(B) won’t
(C) shouldn’t
(D) aren’t going to
9 You are driving at 80 km/h in a very small street! You ______ hurt someone!
(A) will
(B) are going to
(C) are go to
(D) might
10 “Watch out for that deep hole in the road!” – “Too late! We ______ hit it!”
(A) are going to
(B) going to hit
(C) are going
(D) will
11 The taxi in front of us is stopping suddenly. We ______ crash into its back!
(A) will
(B) will to
(C) are going to
(D) can
12 Be careful! You are driving too close to the edge of the road. We ______ fall into the ditch!
(A) are going to falling
(B) will
(C) have to
(D) are going to
13 Look at that crazy driver! He ______ cross the intersection without looking!
(A) would
(B) is going to
(C) does going to
(D) will
14 You are not looking at the road ahead! You ______ hit that street sign!
(A) are going to
(B) are going hit
(C) will
(D) couldn’t
15 We are going way too fast down this steep hill! The brakes ______ stop us in time!
(A) don’t have to
(B) won’t
(C) aren’t going to
(D) don’t going to
16 Look at how the motorbike is shaking! The front tire ______ burst!
(A) will
(B) is going to
(C) is go to
(D) should
17 The intersection is completely blocked by that huge bus. We ______ get through!
(A) aren’t going to
(B) won’t
(C) wouldn’t
(D) not going to
18 I can see the police officer waving at us to pull over. He ______ give you a speeding ticket!
(A) will
(B) might
(C) going to
(D) is going to
19 “There is a lot of sand on the road!” – “Hold on tight! The bike ______ slide!”
(A) are going to
(B) will
(C) is going to
(D) ought to
20 You haven’t checked the mirrors even once! We ______ get hit by a car from behind!
(A) must
(B) are going to
(C) will going to
(D) will
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) are going to
Why it’s correct: The speaker sees present evidence (driving too fast) that will lead to an immediate result (a crash).
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake: “Will” is used for guesses without evidence. (C) Structural Error: Missing the verb “are”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Should” implies advice, not a prediction of an inevitable accident.
2 (C) are going to
Why it’s correct: The red light and current speed are clear physical evidence of an upcoming crash.
Error Analysis: (D) Common Mistake. (A) Structural Error: Incorrect verb form (“go” instead of “going”). (B) Strong Distractor: “Have to” implies obligation, which makes no sense for an accident.
3 (A) are going to
Why it’s correct: The dog is right there (visible evidence), making the collision highly likely if they don’t stop.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Missing “are” and “to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Can” just means it is physically possible, but lacks the urgency of a prediction.
4 (D) are going to
Why it’s correct: The sharp turn is the immediate evidence causing the danger.
Error Analysis: (C) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error: Missing “to”. (A) Strong Distractor: “Must” shows obligation or logical deduction, but “be going to” is the standard for future evidence-based predictions.
5 (B) is going to
Why it’s correct: The truck’s current movement is the evidence.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Missing “to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Ought to” means “should,” which describes ideal behavior, not a dangerous reality.
6 (A) are going to
Why it’s correct: Failing brakes are a 100% guarantee (evidence) of a crash.
Error Analysis: (C) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error: Missing “are”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Are having to” changes the meaning to being forced to do something.
7 (C) are going to
Why it’s correct: Wet and slippery roads plus high speed equal a guaranteed fall.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: Mixing “will” and “going to”. (B) Strong Distractor: “Don’t have to” means it’s not necessary, totally ruining the warning context.
8 (D) aren’t going to
Why it’s correct: Negative prediction based on observing the pedestrians walking without looking.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (A) Structural Error: Missing “are”. (C) Strong Distractor: “Shouldn’t” means it’s a bad idea for them to stop, which is the opposite of what the speaker wants.
9 (B) are going to
Why it’s correct: Speeding (80 km/h) in a small street is direct evidence of impending disaster.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Incorrect “go to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Might” implies it’s only a small possibility, which ruins the urgency of the warning.
10 (A) are going to
Why it’s correct: The hole is right in front of them, and it’s “too late” to avoid it.
Error Analysis: (D) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error: Missing “are”. (C) Structural Error: Missing “to hit”.
11 (C) are going to
Why it’s correct: The taxi stopping is the immediate trigger for the prediction.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error: “Will to” is incorrect. (D) Strong Distractor: “Can” states an ability, not a future certainty.
12 (D) are going to
Why it’s correct: Driving on the edge is the physical cause leading to falling into the ditch.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (A) Structural Error: Verb after “to” must be base form, not “falling”. (C) Strong Distractor: “Have to” means obligation.
13 (B) is going to
Why it’s correct: The driver’s current crazy behavior proves what he will do next.
Error Analysis: (D) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Using “does” instead of “is”. (A) Strong Distractor: “Would” is for conditionals or past habits.
14 (A) are going to
Why it’s correct: Not looking at the road is the perfect recipe (evidence) for hitting the sign.
Error Analysis: (C) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error: Missing “to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Couldn’t” is past tense and negative, making no sense here.
15 (C) aren’t going to
Why it’s correct: The extreme speed (evidence) means the brakes will fail to stop them.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: Using “don’t” instead of “aren’t”. (A) Strong Distractor: “Don’t have to” means the brakes are not required to stop them.
16 (B) is going to
Why it’s correct: The shaking of the bike is visual and physical evidence that the tire will explode.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Incorrect form “is go to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Should” implies it’s a good idea for the tire to burst!
17 (A) aren’t going to
Why it’s correct: The bus blocking the road is the physical barrier proving they cannot pass.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: Missing “we are”. (C) Strong Distractor: “Wouldn’t” is conditional.
18 (D) is going to
Why it’s correct: The police officer waving is clear evidence that a ticket is about to be issued.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Missing “is”. (B) Strong Distractor: “Might” lessens the certainty; seeing a cop wave you over usually means a guaranteed ticket.
19 (C) is going to
Why it’s correct: Sand on the road + speed = the bike is definitely going to slide.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (A) Structural Error: “The bike” is singular, so “are” is incorrect. (D) Strong Distractor: “Ought to” implies a recommendation.
20 (B) are going to
Why it’s correct: Failing to check mirrors is a dangerous action (evidence) leading to a rear-end collision.
Error Analysis: (D) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Mixing “will” and “going to”. (A) Strong Distractor: “Must” implies a logical deduction but isn’t the standard future form for impending events.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 “Be going to” for Present Evidence: When you can see, hear, or feel something right now that tells you a future event is 100% certain to happen, you must use “be going to”.
Example: Dark clouds → It is going to rain. Speeding towards a wall → You are going to crash.
2 Why “Will” is the Common Mistake here: Many English learners use “will” for all future situations. However, “will” is used for guesses, opinions, or instant decisions without physical proof. In a life-or-death warning where the danger is right in front of your eyes, “will” sounds too weak and uncertain. You must use “be going to” to show urgency and inevitability.
3 Grammar Structure Check: Always remember the full formula: Subject + am/is/are + going to + Base Verb.
In moments of panic, students often forget the “to be” verb (saying “We going to crash”) or forget the “to” (saying “We are going crash”). Both are major structural errors in A2 English!