Will vs. Going to vs. Present Continuous (for future) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are talking to your roommate about an exciting date you have planned for this coming Saturday. Choose the correct future form (A, B, C, or D) to complete the conversation naturally.
1 Roommate: “You look so happy! What’s going on?”
You: “Guess what? I ______ dinner with Jamie this Saturday! We just confirmed the time.”
(A) will have
(B) am having
(C) have
(D) will having
2 Roommate: “That’s amazing! Where are you guys going?”
You: “We ______ to that fancy Italian place downtown. Jamie booked the table yesterday.”
(A) are going
(B) go
(C) will go
(D) will be go
3 Roommate: “What time is the reservation?”
You: “The restaurant ______ its doors at 6:00 PM, so we are meeting right when it opens.”
(A) is opening
(B) opens
(C) will open
(D) is going to open
4 Roommate: “Do you know what you are going to wear?”
You: “I thought about it all morning. I ______ my new red dress.”
(A) will wear
(B) wear
(C) am going to wear
(D) will wearing
5 Roommate: “Oh, wait! It’s supposed to be really cold this weekend.”
You: “Really? I didn’t check the weather. I guess I ______ my black coat instead.”
(A) am wearing
(B) am going to wear
(C) wear
(D) will wear
6 Roommate: “How are you getting there? Do you need a ride?”
You: “No, thanks. Jamie ______ me up at exactly 5:30 PM. We agreed on it last night.”
(A) is picking
(B) will pick
(C) picks
(D) is going to pick
7 Roommate: “Are you guys doing anything after dinner?”
You: “Yes! We ______ a play at the community theater. I am holding the tickets right now!”
(A) will see
(B) are seeing
(C) see
(D) will going to see
8 Roommate: “That sounds so fun! What time ______?”
You: “The tickets say it begins exactly at 8:15 PM.”
(A) is the play starting
(B) does the play start
(C) will the play start
(D) is the play going to start
9 Roommate: “I have some bad news. I accidentally shrank your black coat in the wash.”
You: “Oh no! What am I going to do? Okay, don’t panic… I ______ my leather jacket instead. It’s fine.”
(A) am wearing
(B) wear
(C) will wear
(D) am going to wear
10 Roommate: “I feel terrible! I promise I ______ for the dry cleaning next time.”
(A) pay
(B) am paying
(C) am going to pay
(D) will pay
11 Roommate: “So, what are you doing tomorrow to prepare?”
You: “I ______ my hair cut at the salon. My appointment is at 10:00 AM.”
(A) am getting
(B) get
(C) will get
(D) will to get
12 You: “Oh, look at the time! It’s almost 11 PM. I ______ to bed now so I don’t look tired tomorrow.”
(A) go
(B) am going
(C) will go
(D) am go
13 Roommate: “Wait, before you sleep… what ______ this Sunday? Do you want to hang out?”
(A) will you do
(B) are you doing
(C) do you do
(D) will you doing
14 You: “I can’t. My parents ______ to visit this Sunday. They bought their train tickets weeks ago.”
(A) will come
(B) come
(C) are coming
(D) will be come
15 Roommate: “That’s nice! Their train usually ______ at noon, right?”
(A) is arriving
(B) arrives
(C) will arrive
(D) is going to arrive
16 Roommate: “Well, have an amazing time on your date. Look at how expensive that restaurant is online—the food ______ delicious!”
(A) is going to be
(B) is being
(C) will to be
(D) is
17 You: “Thanks! After the play, Jamie and I ______ some friends for a quick drink. They just texted me to confirm.”
(A) meet
(B) will meet
(C) are meeting
(D) are going meet
18 Roommate: “Oh, Jamie’s friends? You might be nervous.”
You: “I know! But I ______ my best to make a good impression. That’s my goal.”
(A) will trying
(B) am going to try
(C) try
(D) am try
19 Roommate: “You will do great. Oh, someone is knocking at the door. I ______ it!”
(A) answer
(B) am answering
(C) will answer
(D) am going to answer
20 You: “Thanks! Let me know if it’s the delivery guy. I ______ the cash ready just in case.”
(A) get
(B) will get
(C) am getting
(D) am going to getting
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) am having
Why it is correct: Present Continuous is used for fixed future arrangements. The speaker says “We just confirmed the time,” meaning the plan involves another person and is 100% scheduled.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for spontaneous decisions. (C) is for official timetables. (D) is structurally incorrect.
2 (A) are going
Why it is correct: Jamie already booked the table. This is a confirmed arrangement with a specific place, making Present Continuous the only correct choice.
Distractor Analysis: (B) is for routines. (C) is for sudden decisions or promises. (D) is structurally invalid.
3 (B) opens
Why it is correct: For official schedules, timetables, and opening/closing hours of businesses, we use the Present Simple tense, even though it refers to the future.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) do not reflect the rule for official public timetables.
4 (C) am going to wear
Why it is correct: “I thought about it all morning” shows that this is a personal intention or plan made before the moment of speaking. It is not an arrangement involving another person, so “going to” is best.
Distractor Analysis: (A) would mean deciding right now. (B) is a daily routine. (D) is grammatically incorrect.
5 (D) will wear
Why it is correct: The speaker just found out about the cold weather (“Really? I didn’t check…”) and is changing their mind at the exact moment of speaking. Instant decisions require “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (B) would mean the speaker planned this beforehand.
6 (A) is picking
Why it is correct: “We agreed on it last night.” This is a mutually agreed-upon arrangement for a specific time. Present Continuous is required.
Distractor Analysis: (B) is for spontaneous offers. (C) is for timetables. (D) implies an intention that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
7 (B) are seeing
Why it is correct: “I am holding the tickets right now!” Having tickets is the ultimate proof of a fixed arrangement. Therefore, Present Continuous is used.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for sudden decisions. (D) is fake grammar.
8 (B) does the play start
Why it is correct: The start time of a theater play is a published, official timetable. We use Present Simple to ask about schedules.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect for public timetables.
9 (C) will wear
Why it is correct: The speaker just found out their coat was ruined. They say “Okay, don’t panic…” and make a completely new, spontaneous decision to wear the leather jacket.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (D) imply prior planning, which is impossible since they just heard the bad news.
10 (D) will pay
Why it is correct: We always use “will” when making a promise.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (C) do not carry the specific communicative function of making a promise.
11 (A) am getting
Why it is correct: “My appointment is at 10:00 AM.” A salon appointment is a fixed, booked arrangement with another person/business. Present Continuous is required.
Distractor Analysis: (B) is a routine. (C) is a sudden decision.
12 (C) will go
Why it is correct: “Oh, look at the time!” The speaker is making a sudden, spontaneous decision to end the conversation and go to bed right at that moment.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is a routine. (B) would be okay if it was pre-planned, but the reaction “Oh, look at the time!” triggers a spontaneous “will”.
13 (B) are you doing
Why it is correct: When asking people about their confirmed social plans or diary events for the weekend, it is standard to use the Present Continuous (“What are you doing this weekend?”).
Distractor Analysis: (A) asks for a prediction. (C) asks about a weekly routine.
14 (C) are coming
Why it is correct: “They bought their train tickets weeks ago.” This is a highly confirmed, fixed arrangement.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for predictions. (B) is for timetables.
15 (B) arrives
Why it is correct: The arrival time of a train is a set public timetable. Present Simple is used.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect for official transport schedules.
16 (A) is going to be
Why it is correct: The roommate is looking at the expensive menu online. This is clear, present evidence. When making a prediction based on present evidence, we use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (D) is a present fact. (C) is grammatically incorrect. “Will be” is possible for opinions, but “going to” is much stronger when looking at direct evidence (the prices/pictures).
17 (C) are meeting
Why it is correct: “They just texted me to confirm.” A confirmed meet-up with friends at a specific time/place is a classic fixed arrangement.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is a routine. (B) is a spontaneous decision.
18 (B) am going to try
Why it is correct: “That’s my goal.” This expresses a strong personal intention that the speaker has thought about beforehand.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (D) are grammatically invalid. (C) is a routine.
19 (C) will answer
Why it is correct: Someone knocks at the door, and the roommate volunteers to open it. Spontaneous offers to help always take “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is a routine. (B) and (D) imply the roommate planned to open the door before anyone even knocked.
20 (B) will get
Why it is correct: The speaker is reacting to the knock on the door and deciding right now to get the cash ready.
Distractor Analysis: (C) and (D) are for prior plans, which doesn’t fit the spontaneous “just in case” reaction.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 Present Continuous (The Diary Tense):
Use the Present Continuous (am/is/are + V-ing) for Fixed Arrangements. These are plans that are 100% confirmed. You have usually booked a table, bought tickets, or agreed on a time and place with another person.
- Example: “I am having dinner with Jamie.” (We agreed on the time and booked a table).
2 Be Going To (The Intention Tense):
Use be going to for personal Plans and Intentions that you have already decided on, but haven’t necessarily booked or confirmed with others yet. It is also used for predictions based on clear evidence.
- Example: “I am going to wear my red dress.” (My personal choice, no one else is involved).
- Example: “Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain.” (Prediction based on evidence).
3 Will (The Spontaneous Tense):
Use will for Instant Decisions, promises, and offers made at the exact moment of speaking. Words like “Oh!”, “Wait!”, or “I forgot!” usually trigger a “will” response.
- Example: “Oh, it’s cold outside? I will wear my jacket instead.” (Changing your mind instantly).
4 Present Simple (The Timetable Tense):
Use the Present Simple for Official Schedules and Timetables. This applies to public transport (trains, flights), movies, concerts, and restaurant opening/closing hours.
- Example: “The movie starts at 8:15 PM.”