Future Forms: Will vs. Going to – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Sports Commentary (It is the 85th minute of a football match, and the home team is leading 3-0 You are posting live updates on social media).
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Read the context carefully before making your choice.
1 The score is 3-0 and there are only 5 minutes left! We ______ win this match!
(A) going to
(B) are going to
(C) will
(D) should
2 Look at the opposing players; they are completely exhausted. They ______ score three goals in five minutes.
(A) won’t
(B) shouldn’t
(C) aren’t going to
(D) not going to
3 The stadium is going crazy! The fans ______ start celebrating right now!
(A) are going to
(B) will
(C) are go to
(D) have to
4 3-0 at the 85th minute! Our team ______ take the championship trophy home tonight!
(A) will to
(B) might
(C) will
(D) is going to
5 The opponent’s defense is completely broken. They ______ stop our strikers anymore!
(A) won’t
(B) mustn’t
(C) aren’t going to
(D) aren’t going
6 Look at our coach smiling on the sidelines! He ______ give the players a big reward.
(A) will
(B) is going to
(C) should
(D) is going
7 Our goalkeeper is just relaxing now. He ______ have to make any more difficult saves.
(A) doesn’t going to
(B) won’t
(C) ought not to
(D) isn’t going to
8 “What a fantastic performance! We ______ be the champions of this season!”
(A) are going to
(B) will
(C) are going
(D) could
9 The referee is looking at his watch. He ______ blow the final whistle very soon.
(A) will
(B) can
(C) is going to
(D) is go to
10 It is impossible for them to come back from 3-0 We ______ lose this game!
(A) shouldn’t
(B) aren’t going to
(C) won’t
(D) don’t going to
11 Look at the other team’s fans; they are leaving the stadium early. They know their team ______ recover from this.
(A) won’t to
(B) doesn’t have to
(C) isn’t going to
(D) won’t
12 Our captain is already preparing his victory speech. He ______ lift the cup in a few minutes!
(A) will
(B) might
(C) is going to lifts
(D) is going to
13 We have completely dominated the second half. This ______ be our biggest victory of the year!
(A) will
(B) is going to
(C) is going
(D) has to
14 The opposing manager looks extremely angry. He ______ yell at his players in the locker room!
(A) is going to
(B) will
(C) will to
(D) could
15 With only five minutes of injury time left, a miracle ______ happen for the other team.
(A) won’t
(B) not going to
(C) shouldn’t
(D) isn’t going to
16 Our star striker just got the ball again near the penalty box. He ______ score a fourth goal!
(A) will
(B) is go to
(C) is going to
(D) should
17 The medical staff is preparing the ice baths. The players ______ need a lot of rest after this amazing effort.
(A) will
(B) are going to
(C) are going to needing
(D) ought to
18 Everyone on our bench is standing up and hugging. They ______ run onto the pitch to celebrate.
(A) are going to
(B) will
(C) are going
(D) must
19 I am recording this moment on my phone! I ______ post this historic win on all my social media accounts right now.
(A) will
(B) am go to
(C) might
(D) am going to
20 The fireworks are already set up behind the stadium. It ______ be a beautiful night for our city!
(A) will
(B) should
(C) is going to
(D) is going to being
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) are going to
Why it’s correct: The score (3-0) and the time (5 minutes left) are undeniable physical evidence that the victory is certain.
Error Analysis: (C) Common Mistake: “Will” is used for guesses without evidence. (A) Structural Error: Missing the “to be” verb (“are”). (D) Strong Distractor: “Should” means it’s highly probable, but lacks the absolute certainty of “are going to” based on this strong evidence.
2 (C) aren’t going to
Why it’s correct: The players’ exhaustion is visible evidence that they cannot score three goals.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: Missing “are”. (B) Strong Distractor: “Shouldn’t” gives advice (“It is a bad idea for them to score”), which is illogical here.
3 (A) are going to
Why it’s correct: The fans going crazy is present evidence of an immediate future action.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: “Are go to” is incorrect grammar. (D) Strong Distractor: “Have to” means obligation, which doesn’t fit the spontaneous joy of a celebration.
4 (D) is going to
Why it’s correct: The 3-0 scoreline is the proof that taking the trophy is a guaranteed event.
Error Analysis: (C) Common Mistake. (A) Structural Error: “Will to”. (B) Strong Distractor: “Might” implies a low possibility, which completely contradicts a 3-0 lead at the 85th minute!
5 (C) aren’t going to
Why it’s correct: A broken defense is direct evidence that they cannot stop the strikers.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: Missing “to” and the base verb. (B) Strong Distractor: “Mustn’t” means “are not allowed to,” which changes the meaning completely.
6 (B) is going to
Why it’s correct: The coach smiling on the sidelines is the physical sign/evidence of his future action.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: Missing “to” and the base verb. (C) Strong Distractor: “Should” implies an expectation rather than a confident prediction.
7 (D) isn’t going to
Why it’s correct: The fact that the goalkeeper is relaxing is evidence that the game is practically over.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (A) Structural Error: Using “doesn’t” instead of “isn’t”. (C) Strong Distractor: “Ought not to” functions as advice, not a prediction.
8 (A) are going to
Why it’s correct: The fantastic performance and the current score are the ultimate proof of becoming champions.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Missing “to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Could” means it’s possible, but “are going to” means it is 100% certain.
9 (C) is going to
Why it’s correct: Looking at the watch is the classic physical evidence that a referee is about to blow the whistle.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: “Is go to”. (B) Strong Distractor: “Can” means he has the ability to blow the whistle, but doesn’t predict that he actually will.
10 (B) aren’t going to
Why it’s correct: The impossibility of a comeback is the evidence for this negative prediction.
Error Analysis: (C) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: “Don’t” instead of “aren’t”. (A) Strong Distractor: “Shouldn’t” means it’s a bad idea to lose.
11 (C) isn’t going to
Why it’s correct: Fans leaving the stadium early is the visible proof that the game is already decided.
Error Analysis: (D) Common Mistake. (A) Structural Error: “Won’t to”. (B) Strong Distractor: “Doesn’t have to” means they are not forced to recover.
12 (D) is going to
Why it’s correct: Preparing the speech is the present action (evidence) that leads to lifting the cup.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Adding an “s” to the verb “lift” after “to”. (B) Strong Distractor: “Might” means maybe, ruining the certainty of the moment.
13 (B) is going to
Why it’s correct: Dominating the second half is the evidence supporting the prediction of a big victory.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Missing “to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Has to” indicates obligation rather than a natural outcome.
14 (A) is going to
Why it’s correct: The manager’s angry face is the physical evidence of what he will do next.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: “Will to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Could” makes the threat sound weak and uncertain.
15 (D) isn’t going to
Why it’s correct: The lack of time (only 5 minutes) is the evidence that a miracle cannot happen.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error: Missing “is”. (C) Strong Distractor: “Shouldn’t” implies a moral judgment rather than a statement of fact.
16 (C) is going to
Why it’s correct: The striker having the ball near the penalty box is the immediate setup (evidence) for a goal.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error: “Is go to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Should” means it’s expected, but lacks the thrilling certainty of “is going to”.
17 (B) are going to
Why it’s correct: Preparing ice baths is the physical sign that the players are about to rest.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: “Are going to needing”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Ought to” sounds like medical advice rather than a statement of an upcoming event.
18 (A) are going to
Why it’s correct: Standing up and hugging are the physical actions happening right before running onto the pitch.
Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error: Missing “to”. (D) Strong Distractor: “Must” implies a rule or order to run onto the pitch.
19 (D) am going to
Why it’s correct: Recording the video on the phone is the present preparation (evidence) for posting it online.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error: “Am go to”. (C) Strong Distractor: “Might” shows hesitation, which doesn’t fit the excitement of a live update.
20 (C) is going to
Why it’s correct: Seeing the fireworks already set up is the ultimate physical proof that a celebration is about to happen.
Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error: “Is going to being”. (B) Strong Distractor: “Should” means it is supposed to be beautiful, but “is going to” locks it in as a guaranteed fact.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 “Be going to” for 100% Guaranteed Outcomes: When you are watching a live event (like a sports match) and the outcome is already obvious because of what is happening right in front of your eyes (e.g., a 3-0 score at the 85th minute), you must use “be going to”. The score and the remaining time act as undeniable present evidence.
2 Why “Will” is Incorrect Here:
“Will” is used when you are guessing or expressing a personal opinion about the future without solid proof. For example, before the match even starts, you might say, “I think we will win today” (just an opinion). But at the 85th minute, when you are already leading 3-0, it is no longer a guess—it is a reality. Therefore, “We are going to win” is the only correct and natural choice.
3 Look for the “Evidence” Clues:
In grammar tests, always look for the sentence before the gap. Phrases like The score is 3-0, The referee is looking at his watch, or The fireworks are already set up are massive clues. They are placed there specifically to force you to choose “Be going to” instead of “Will”.