Will vs. Going to vs. Present Continuous (for future) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are writing a post for your travel blog to guide your followers on how to travel by train across the country. Choose the correct future form (A, B, C, or D) to complete your travel tips naturally.
1 Hello, fellow travelers! If you want to visit the mountains tomorrow, the first express train ______ at exactly 6:30 AM. Don’t be late!
(A) is leaving
(B) will leave
(C) leaves
(D) is going to leave
2 I bought a new drone yesterday because I ______ a cinematic video of the valley for my next vlog. That is my main goal!
(A) am going to film
(B) am filming
(C) film
(D) will film
3 To make things easier, the shuttle bus from the airport to the main train station ______ every 20 minutes.
(A) will run
(B) is running
(C) runs
(D) is going to run
4 You guys asked for my packing list in the comments. I promise I ______ it on my Instagram story tonight!
(A) am posting
(B) post
(C) am going to post
(D) will post
5 I highly recommend visiting the National Railway Museum. It ______ its doors at 9:00 AM every single day.
(A) opens
(B) is opening
(C) will open
(D) is going to open
6 Look at this massive queue for the ticket machine in my photo! It is obvious that we ______ in line for at least an hour.
(A) will wait
(B) wait
(C) are going to wait
(D) are waiting
7 I can’t write much right now. My train ______ the station in two minutes, so I have to board immediately!
(A) is departing
(B) departs
(C) will depart
(D) is going to depart
(Note: “In two minutes” follows the strict timetable)
8 Tomorrow evening, I ______ dinner with a local tour guide. We reserved a table at a traditional restaurant.
(A) am having
(B) will have
(C) have
(D) am going have
9 If you get lost finding the correct platform, just message me and I ______ you a map immediately!
(A) send
(B) am sending
(C) am going to send
(D) will send
10 Please remember that the dining car on the night train ______ at 10:00 PM. If you are hungry after that, you are out of luck!
(A) is going to close
(B) will close
(C) is closing
(D) closes
11 I absolutely love this scenic route. Based on my experience, I am sure you guys ______ the beautiful views!
(A) are loving
(B) will love
(C) are going to love
(D) love
12 By the way, I booked a private cabin for my trip next week. I ______ in luxury this time!
(A) travel
(B) will travel
(C) am traveling
(D) will traveling
13 For those transferring to the island, the connecting ferry ______ at 2:15 PM.
(A) will sail
(B) is going to sail
(C) sails
(D) is sailing
14 Oh, my laptop battery is dying while typing this! Hold on, I ______ my charger from my backpack.
(A) am going to get
(B) get
(C) will get
(D) am getting
15 Next month, I plan to explore the southern coast. I ______ on the beaches for a whole week.
(A) will relax
(B) am going to relax
(C) relax
(D) am relaxing
16 If you want to join the free city walking tour, it ______ at noon in the central square.
(A) begins
(B) is beginning
(C) will begin
(D) is going to begin
17 Look at those heavy black clouds out the train window. It ______ heavily when we arrive.
(A) will pour
(B) pours
(C) is pouring
(D) is going to pour
18 A follower just commented that they lost their digital ticket. Don’t panic! I ______ you the link to recover it.
(A) am going to send
(B) will send
(C) send
(D) am sending
19 Make sure you are awake early on Sunday. Our return flight ______ at 8:45 AM sharp.
(A) takes off
(B) will take off
(C) is taking off
(D) is going to take off
20 I hope this train guide is helpful! I swear I ______ answering your travel questions as long as I run this blog.
(A) continue
(B) am continuing
(C) will continue
(D) am going to continue
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) leaves
Why it is correct: A train schedule is an official, public timetable. Even though it happens tomorrow, we must use the Present Simple tense for fixed timetables.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for personal arrangements. (B) is for spontaneous choices. (D) is for personal intentions.
2 (A) am going to film
Why it is correct: “That is my main goal!” The blogger bought the drone with the clear, pre-existing intention to film a video. For personal plans formed before speaking, use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (B) is an arrangement (but filming a landscape is an individual action, not a social arrangement). (D) is for instant decisions.
3 (C) runs
Why it is correct: A shuttle bus running “every 20 minutes” is a fixed public transport schedule. Present Simple is used.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (D) do not apply to regular public timetables.
4 (D) will post
Why it is correct: The blogger says “I promise…”. We always use “will” when making a promise.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (C) cannot be used to declare a promise.
5 (A) opens
Why it is correct: The opening time of a museum is a published, official timetable. Present Simple is required.
Distractor Analysis: (B), (C), and (D) ignore the timetable rule.
6 (C) are going to wait
Why it is correct: “Look at this massive queue!” The blogger is pointing to clear, present physical evidence. When predicting based on current evidence, use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) “will wait” is a guess without direct visual evidence.
7 (B) departs
Why it is correct: The departure of the train is governed by the station’s official timetable. Present Simple is the standard choice for scheduled transport.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) do not reflect the strict timetable rule.
8 (A) am having
Why it is correct: “We reserved a table at a traditional restaurant.” This is a booked, 100% confirmed arrangement with another person. Present Continuous is the standard “diary tense”.
Distractor Analysis: (B) is for sudden decisions. (C) is a routine.
9 (D) will send
Why it is correct: The blogger is making a spontaneous offer to help anyone who gets lost (“Just message me and I will…”). Offers of help require “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is a routine. (B) and (C) imply prior planning before the person even asked for a map.
10 (D) closes
Why it is correct: The closing time of the dining car is an official operational schedule. Present Simple is used.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (C) do not fit the timetable rule.
11 (B) will love
Why it is correct: “I am sure…” The blogger is expressing a personal belief or subjective prediction about the followers’ feelings. Personal predictions use “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (C) would be used if there was concrete evidence right now (like seeing the followers smiling).
12 (C) am traveling
Why it is correct: “I booked a private cabin.” Because a booking has been made, this is a highly confirmed, fixed arrangement. Present Continuous is required.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is a routine. (B) is a spontaneous decision.
13 (C) sails
Why it is correct: A connecting ferry operates on a set timetable. Present Simple is used for public transport schedules.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect for official schedules.
14 (C) will get
Why it is correct: “Hold on…” The blogger reacts to a sudden problem (the battery dying) and makes an instant decision to get the charger. Sudden decisions take “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (D) imply the blogger intended to get the charger before noticing the battery was dying.
15 (B) am going to relax
Why it is correct: “I plan to explore…” Relaxing on the beach is a personal intention or goal the blogger has formulated. It doesn’t require a booking or another person, so “going to” is best.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for sudden choices. (C) is a routine.
16 (A) begins
Why it is correct: The start time of a city walking tour is a published, official schedule. Present Simple is required.
Distractor Analysis: (B), (C), and (D) do not reflect the timetable rule.
17 (D) is going to pour
Why it is correct: “Look at those heavy black clouds…” This is clear, present physical evidence of an incoming storm. Evidence-based predictions require “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is a guess without physical evidence.
18 (B) will send
Why it is correct: The blogger reads a comment about a lost ticket and makes an immediate, spontaneous offer to help (“Don’t panic! I will send…”).
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (D) imply the blogger planned to send the link before the follower even lost the ticket!
19 (A) takes off
Why it is correct: A flight departure is an official, non-negotiable public timetable. Present Simple is used.
Distractor Analysis: (B), (C), and (D) are incorrect for aviation schedules.
20 (C) will continue
Why it is correct: “I swear” is a synonym for “I promise”. Promises always require the use of “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (D) cannot be used to make a promise.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 Present Simple (Timetables):
- At the B1 level, you must remember that Present Simple is used for future events if they are part of a fixed, public timetable. This is objective and cannot be changed by the speaker.
- Keywords: trains, buses, flights, ferries, museums, classes, movies.
- Example: “The train leaves at 6:30 AM.” (Even if it is tomorrow, we use the present tense because it happens every day at that time).
2 Present Continuous (Fixed Arrangements):
- Use this for your personal diary. If you have booked a ticket, reserved a table, or agreed to meet someone, it is a Fixed Arrangement.
- Example: “I am having dinner with a guide.” (The table is booked).
3 Will (Spontaneous Decisions & Offers):
- Use Will when you decide to do something exactly as you are typing or speaking.
- Example: “You lost your map? I will send you a new one.” (Instant offer).
4 Be Going To (Intentions & Evidence):
- Use this for personal plans made before speaking, or for predictions based on what you can see right now.
- Example: “I am going to film a vlog.” (My plan). / “Look at the queue, we are going to wait for hours.” (Visual evidence).