Future: Will vs. Be going to – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are holding a piece of paper with a list of items to buy and talking to your roommate right before leaving the house for the supermarket.
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to fill in the blank. Pay close attention to the context: you are stating actions based on a careful, prior plan (the list in your hand).
1 I have my list here. I ______ buy some milk.
(A) am going to
(B) buy
(C) going to
(D) will
2 Look at this note. We ______ have chicken for dinner tonight.
(A) will
(B) are going
(C) are going to
(D) have
3 I wrote it down. I ______ get some fresh fruit at the market.
(A) am go to
(B) will
(C) am going to
(D) getting
4 It is the first thing on my list. I ______ buy a dozen eggs.
(A) going to
(B) am going to
(C) will
(D) am buying to
5 My list is very long. I ______ spend a lot of time at the store.
(A) will
(B) spending
(C) am going
(D) am going to
6 I put tomatoes on the paper because I ______ make a big salad.
(A) am go to
(B) will
(C) make
(D) am going to
7 We have no bread, so it is on the list. I ______ get a fresh loaf.
(A) will
(B) am going to getting
(C) am going to
(D) get
8 “Are you buying apples?” – “Yes, they are on the list. I ______ buy five of them.”
(A) going to
(B) will
(C) am going to buying
(D) am going to
9 I crossed out the beef. I ______ buy any meat today.
(A) won’t
(B) am not going
(C) am not going to
(D) don’t going to
10 “Why is flour on your list?” – “Because I ______ bake a cake for Mary.”
(A) will
(B) am go to
(C) bake
(D) am going to
11 Look at her shopping list. She ______ host a huge dinner party!
(A) is going to
(B) will
(C) is going
(D) hosts
12 I checked the fridge earlier, so I know exactly what I ______ need.
(A) will
(B) am going to
(C) needing
(D) am going to needing
13 We have plenty of sugar in the jar, so I ______ buy any.
(A) won’t
(B) am not going to
(C) not going to
(D) am not buying to
14 The list is complete. We ______ head to the supermarket right now.
(A) are going to
(B) heading
(C) are going
(D) will
15 I have everything carefully planned on this paper. I ______ forget anything!
(A) don’t forget
(B) won’t
(C) am not going
(D) am not going to
16 “Your shopping bags are huge!” – “I know. According to this list, I ______ buy groceries for the whole week.”
(A) will
(B) am go to
(C) am going to
(D) bought
17 Based on the recipe and this list, I ______ need exactly three onions.
(A) am going to needing
(B) am going to
(C) going to
(D) will
18 “You added coffee to the list!” – “Yes, I ______ make tiramisu tomorrow morning.”
(A) will
(B) make
(C) is going to
(D) am going to
19 I calculated the budget for this list. The total ______ cost around fifty dollars.
(A) is going to
(B) are going to
(C) will
(D) cost
20 I made a very detailed grocery list because I ______ be strictly organized this time.
(A) am going to being
(B) will
(C) am going to
(D) am
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A)
Explanation: “Am going to” is the correct choice for a prior plan or intention (evidenced by having a list). Option (D) is a common mistake; “will” is incorrectly used for all future actions by learners, but it should only be used for instant decisions. Option (C) is a structural error missing the “to be” verb (“am”). Option (B) is the wrong tense.
2 (C)
Explanation: Having chicken for dinner is a pre-planned event. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error (missing “to”). Option (D) is a meaning trap; present simple doesn’t accurately convey this future intention.
3 (C)
Explanation: The action was decided before speaking (“I wrote it down”). Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (A) is a severe structural error (“am go to”). Option (D) is grammatically incorrect in this context.
4 (B)
Explanation: A specific, planned item on the list requires “be going to”. Option (A) lacks the “to be” verb. Option (C) is a common mistake regarding planned vs. unplanned future. Option (D) is a structural trap.
5 (D)
Explanation: A logical prediction based on clear present evidence (a very long list). Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (C) is missing “to” before the base verb. Option (B) is incorrect grammar.
6 (D)
Explanation: Explaining a pre-existing intention (making a salad). Option (B) incorrectly uses “will” for a planned action. Option (A) is a structural error. Option (C) is a present simple trap.
7 (C)
Explanation: Buying bread is an established plan. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error (using a gerund “getting” after “going to”). Option (D) is a strong distractor due to direct translation habits but is grammatically wrong for future intentions.
8 (D)
Explanation: Confirming a planned purchase. Option (B) is incorrect because the decision was not made at the moment of speaking. Option (A) lacks “am”. Option (C) is a structural error.
9 (C)
Explanation: The negative form of a planned intention (crossing it out proves the decision was already made). Option (A) “won’t” is a very common mistake for negative future plans. Option (B) is missing the preposition “to”. Option (D) is completely incorrect structurally.
10 (D)
Explanation: The reason for buying flour is a prior intention to bake a cake. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error. Option (C) is a tense trap.
11 (A)
Explanation: Drawing a conclusion about a future plan based on present evidence (her list). Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (C) lacks the word “to”. Option (D) is a meaning trap.
12 (B)
Explanation: Checking the fridge earlier means the shopping needs were planned in advance. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (D) is a structural error. Option (C) is grammatically incorrect.
13 (B)
Explanation: A premeditated decision not to buy sugar. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (C) is missing the “to be” verb (“am”). Option (D) is a structural error.
14 (A)
Explanation: Executing a plan that has just been finalized. Option (D) is a common mistake. Option (C) is missing “to”. Option (B) is the wrong tense.
15 (D)
Explanation: Expressing a strong intention/prediction based on careful planning. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (C) is missing “to”. Option (A) is a meaning trap (direct translation from native languages to present simple).
16 (C)
Explanation: Using the list to prove an established shopping plan. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error. Option (D) is the wrong tense (past).
17 (B)
Explanation: Calculating exact needs based on a recipe is a clear plan. Option (D) is a common mistake. Option (A) is a structural error (“needing”). Option (C) lacks “am”.
18 (D)
Explanation: Explaining the prior intention behind putting coffee on the list. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (C) uses the wrong “to be” verb for the subject “I”. Option (B) is a meaning trap.
19 (A)
Explanation: A prediction based on a calculated budget (present evidence). Option (C) is a common mistake. Option (B) uses “are” instead of “is” for the singular subject “The total”. Option (D) is a meaning trap.
20 (C)
Explanation: The intention behind making the list in the first place. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (A) is a structural error (“being”). Option (D) is grammatically incorrect.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Prior Plans & Intentions: When you have thought about, prepared, or planned an action before the moment of speaking (such as writing a grocery list or checking your fridge), you MUST use the structure “Be going to + Base Verb”.
- “Will” vs. “Be going to”: Do not overuse “Will” for all future situations. “Will” is strictly reserved for instant, spontaneous decisions made exactly at the moment of speaking. In the “Grocery List” context, the shopping is already planned, making “Will” the incorrect choice.
- The Structure Rule: The correct grammatical formula is always: Subject + am/is/are + going to + Base Verb. Watch out for common structural errors like forgetting the “to be” verb (e.g., “I going to”), forgetting the preposition “to” (e.g., “I am going buy”), or incorrectly adding “-ing” to the main verb (e.g., “I am going to buying”).