Will vs. Going to vs. Present Continuous (for future) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are reading an email from the company secretary outlining the details of an upcoming business trip and conference. Choose the correct future form (A, B, C, or D) to complete the sentences accurately.
1 Dear Team, please be informed that our outbound flight to Berlin ______ at exactly 8:15 AM this Friday.
(A) is leaving
(B) leaves
(C) will leave
(D) is going to leave
2 According to the official schedule, the opening ceremony of the conference ______ at 9:00 AM sharp on Monday.
(A) begins
(B) is beginning
(C) will begin
(D) is going to begin
3 We have already booked the accommodation. We ______ at the Grand Plaza Hotel in the city center.
(A) will stay
(B) stay
(C) are staying
(D) will staying
4 If anyone forgets to print their boarding pass, don’t worry. Just tell me and I ______ it for you at the airport.
(A) am printing
(B) print
(C) am going to print
(D) will print
5 I have read the program carefully, and I ______ attend the marketing workshop on Tuesday afternoon. That is my personal plan.
(A) am going to
(B) will
(C) attend
(D) am attend
6 Please do not be late. The airport shuttle bus ______ every 30 minutes, and we need to catch the 6:00 AM one.
(A) is departing
(B) will depart
(C) departs
(D) is going to depart
7 On Monday evening, our CEO ______ the keynote speakers for a formal dinner. The restaurant is already reserved.
(A) meets
(B) will meet
(C) is meeting
(D) will meeting
8 I see that the projector in the main meeting room is broken. Okay, I ______ the IT department right now to fix it.
(A) am calling
(B) call
(C) am going to call
(D) will call
9 Make sure you are in your seats early. The first guest lecture ______ at 10:30 AM.
(A) is going to start
(B) starts
(C) is starting
(D) will start
10 Since public transport in Berlin is excellent, the company ______ any rental cars for this trip.
(A) isn’t going to hire
(B) won’t to hire
(C) doesn’t hire
(D) isn’t hire
11 Look at the terrible traffic on this map! We ______ miss the flight if we don’t leave right now!
(A) will missing
(B) are missing
(C) are going to
(D) miss
12 You lost your copy of the agenda? No problem, I ______ you a new copy immediately.
(A) am emailing
(B) email
(C) am going to email
(D) will email
13 Does anyone know what time the main exhibition hall ______ on the final day?
(A) will close
(B) closes
(C) is closing
(D) is going to close
14 Mr. Henderson from Accounting ______ a presentation on Q3 profits on Wednesday. His name is on the official program.
(A) is giving
(B) gives
(C) will give
(D) is going give
15 There are no window seats left on the plane? That’s fine, I ______ an aisle seat instead.
(A) am taking
(B) take
(C) will take
(D) am going to take
16 For those taking the train to the airport, the express service ______ from Platform 4 at 6:45 AM.
(A) will leave
(B) is going to leave
(C) leaves
(D) is leaving
17 I bought a new suitcase yesterday because I ______ pack all my presentation materials tonight.
(A) will
(B) am going to
(C) am packing
(D) pack
18 Is your luggage too heavy? Leave it there, I ______ it to the check-in desk for you.
(A) am carrying
(B) carry
(C) am going to carry
(D) will carry
19 The trip is completely finalized. We ______ back to London on Sunday evening.
(A) fly
(B) will fly
(C) are flying
(D) are going fly
20 The hotel restaurant ______ a complimentary breakfast from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM every day.
(A) serves
(B) is serving
(C) will serve
(D) is going to serve
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) leaves
Why it is correct: A flight departure is a fixed, official timetable set by the airline. It does not depend on our personal plans. For public timetables, we MUST use the Present Simple tense.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for personal arrangements. (C) is for spontaneous decisions. (D) is for intentions.
2 (A) begins
Why it is correct: The start time of a conference ceremony is an official, published schedule (Timetable). Therefore, Present Simple is required.
Distractor Analysis: (B), (C), and (D) do not reflect the strict timetable rule.
3 (C) are staying
Why it is correct: The phrase “We have already booked the accommodation” proves this is a 100% confirmed, fixed arrangement involving the hotel. We use the Present Continuous for fixed future arrangements in diaries.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for sudden decisions. (B) is a routine.
4 (D) will print
Why it is correct: The secretary is making a spontaneous offer to help (“Just tell me and I will…”). Instant decisions and offers made at the moment of speaking always use “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (C) imply the secretary planned to print it before the person even asked.
5 (A) am going to
Why it is correct: The speaker has read the program and made a personal decision/intention to attend the workshop. For personal plans and intentions, use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (B) is for spontaneous decisions. (C) is for timetables.
6 (C) departs
Why it is correct: The airport shuttle bus operates on a fixed public schedule (“every 30 minutes”). We use Present Simple for public transport timetables.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect for official timetables.
7 (C) is meeting
Why it is correct: “The restaurant is already reserved.” This is a confirmed appointment/arrangement with other people (the keynote speakers). Present Continuous is necessary.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for timetables (a dinner is not a public timetable). (B) is for spontaneous choices.
8 (D) will call
Why it is correct: The speaker just noticed the broken projector and decides right now to call IT. Spontaneous decisions require “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (C) imply prior planning, which contradicts the sudden discovery of the problem.
9 (B) starts
Why it is correct: A guest lecture has a scheduled, published start time in the conference program. Present Simple is used for timetables.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) ignore the timetable rule.
10 (A) isn’t going to hire
Why it is correct: This is a planned intention. The company has decided in advance not to hire cars.
Distractor Analysis: (B) has a structural error (“won’t to”). (C) is a general routine.
11 (C) are going to
Why it is correct: There is clear, present evidence (the terrible traffic on the map). When making a prediction based on physical evidence you can see right now, use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is structurally invalid. (D) is present simple.
12 (D) will email
Why it is correct: The secretary is reacting to a sudden problem (“You lost your copy?”) and offers an instant solution. “Will” is used for spontaneous reactions and promises.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (C) suggest the secretary planned to send it before knowing the first copy was lost.
13 (B) closes
Why it is correct: The closing time of an exhibition hall is an official, fixed schedule. Present Simple is used for business opening/closing hours.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect for published timetables.
14 (A) is giving
Why it is correct: Mr. Henderson is scheduled to give a presentation, and his name is confirmed in the program. This is a fixed arrangement. Present Continuous is used.
Distractor Analysis: (B) would only be used if giving presentations was his daily routine, not a specific future event. (C) is for sudden decisions.
15 (C) will take
Why it is correct: The speaker just found out there are no window seats and makes a new, spontaneous choice (“I will take an aisle seat instead”).
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (D) imply the speaker planned to take the aisle seat all along.
16 (C) leaves
Why it is correct: The departure of the express train is an official timetable. We use Present Simple.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect for public timetables.
17 (B) am going to
Why it is correct: The speaker bought a suitcase yesterday to fulfill a specific plan/intention tonight (packing materials). For personal intentions, use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for spontaneous decisions. (D) is a routine.
18 (D) will carry
Why it is correct: This is a spontaneous offer to help a colleague with heavy luggage. Offers always use “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (C) imply prior planning before seeing the heavy luggage.
19 (C) are flying
Why it is correct: “The trip is completely finalized.” This means the tickets are booked and the arrangement is 100% fixed. Present Continuous is required.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for timetables (the flight leaves, but we are flying). (B) is for spontaneous choices.
20 (A) serves
Why it is correct: The breakfast hours are an official, fixed schedule provided by the hotel. Present Simple is used for timetables.
Distractor Analysis: (B), (C), and (D) do not apply to fixed service schedules.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
To master future forms at the B1 level, you must understand the difference between a personal plan and an official schedule:
1 Present Simple (The Timetable Tense):
- Use this for official, public schedules that you cannot change. This is completely objective.
- Examples: Flights, trains, buses, conference start times, movie screenings, and restaurant opening/closing hours.
- Rule in action: Even though the flight is tomorrow, we say: “The flight leaves at 8:15 AM.” (Not will leave).
2 Present Continuous (Fixed Arrangements):
- Use this for plans that are 100% confirmed, usually involving bookings, reservations, or agreements with other people.
- Rule in action: “We are staying at the Grand Hotel.” (The rooms are booked).
3 Be Going To (Intentions & Evidence):
- Use it for personal plans you decided before speaking, or for predictions based on clear visual evidence.
- Rule in action: “I am going to attend the workshop.” (My personal intention). / “Look at the traffic, we are going to be late!” (Evidence).
4 Will (Spontaneous Decisions & Offers):
- Use will when you decide something, offer help, or make a promise exactly at the moment you speak.
- Rule in action: “You forgot your boarding pass? I will print it for you.” (Instant reaction).