Future: Will vs. Be going to – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You borrow a book, a small amount of money, or an object from a friend and confirm when you will return it.
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to fill in the blank. Pay close attention to the context: you are making a promise or guaranteeing an action to reassure the person lending you the item.
1 “Thanks for lending me your pen. I ______ give it back after the test.”
(A) am going to
(B) will giving
(C) will
(D) give
2 “I appreciate the 10 dollars. I ______ pay you back tomorrow.”
(A) will
(B) am going to
(C) pay
(D) will to pay
3 “Don’t worry about your book. I ______ bring it to class on Friday.”
(A) bringing
(B) will
(C) am bringing
(D) am going to
4 “You can trust me. I ______ return your laptop in perfect condition.”
(A) return
(B) going to
(C) will returned
(D) will
5 “Thanks for the jacket. I ______ wash it before I give it back.”
(A) will
(B) am going to
(C) will washes
(D) wash
6 “I promise I ______ lose the keys you gave me.”
(A) don’t lose
(B) am not going to
(C) won’t
(D) don’t will
7 “Please lend me your charger. I swear I ______ keep it for too long.”
(A) won’t
(B) am not going to
(C) will not to
(D) don’t
8 “I need your notes for the exam. I ______ copy them and return them tonight.”
(A) am going to
(B) will copying
(C) am copy
(D) will
9 “If you let me use your bike, I ______ be very careful with it.”
(A) will to be
(B) will
(C) am going to
(D) am
10 “Here is your dictionary. Oh wait, I still need it! I ______ return it tomorrow morning, I promise!”
(A) will
(B) am going to
(C) will returned
(D) return
11 “Do you need this umbrella? If you lend it to me, I ______ bring it back this afternoon.”
(A) might
(B) am going to
(C) bring
(D) will
12 “I know you need this camera for your trip. I ______ drop it off at your house before you leave.”
(A) am going to
(B) will dropping
(C) will
(D) drop
13 “Thanks for paying for my lunch. I ______ transfer the money to your bank account later today.”
(A) transfer
(B) will
(C) am going to
(D) will to transfer
14 “Don’t stress about the headphones. I ______ leave them on your desk when I finish.”
(A) am going to
(B) will left
(C) leave
(D) will
15 “I give you my word. I ______ forget to bring your sleeping bag back before the weekend.”
(A) won’t
(B) am not going to
(C) won’t to
(D) haven’t
16 “I really need to borrow your car. I promise I ______ fill up the gas tank before I return it.”
(A) am going to
(B) will filling
(C) will
(D) am fill
17 “You are so kind to lend me this dress. I ______ have it dry-cleaned for you by Monday.”
(A) have
(B) will to have
(C) am going to
(D) will
18 “I am sorry I forgot your money today. I ______ definitely pay you double tomorrow!”
(A) am going to
(B) will
(C) will pays
(D) pay
19 “If you trust me with your dog for the weekend, I ______ take great care of him.”
(A) will taking
(B) take
(C) will
(D) am going to
20 “I know this book is special to you. I swear I ______ bend any of the pages.”
(A) am not going to
(B) don’t will
(C) not bend
(D) won’t
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C)
Explanation: You are making a promise to return the pen, so “will” is required. Option (A) is a common mistake (using “am going to” for promises instead of plans). Option (B) is a structural error (will + V-ing). Option (D) is a meaning trap; the present simple does not convey a future guarantee.
2 (A)
Explanation: “Will” is used to assure the lender you will repay the money. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (D) is a structural error (will + to V). Option (C) is grammatically incorrect for a future promise.
3 (B)
Explanation: “Don’t worry” sets up a reassuring promise, demanding “will”. Option (D) is a common mistake. Option (A) is missing auxiliary verbs. Option (C) is a meaning trap; present continuous is for fixed arrangements, not assurances.
4 (D)
Explanation: The phrase “You can trust me” indicates a strong promise. Option (B) lacks the verb “to be” and is the wrong future form. Option (C) is a structural error (will + V-ed). Option (A) is a tense trap.
5 (A)
Explanation: Promising to wash the jacket before returning it. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (C) is a structural error (adding “s” after a modal verb). Option (D) does not express future intent.
6 (C)
Explanation: “Won’t” is the negative form of “will”, used here to promise not to do something. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (D) is a severe structural error. Option (A) is a meaning trap.
7 (A)
Explanation: “I swear” is a clear indicator of a strong promise. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (C) is a structural error (“will not to”). Option (D) is a tense trap.
8 (D)
Explanation: Assuring the friend that the notes will be returned tonight. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error. Option (C) is grammatically incorrect.
9 (B)
Explanation: Promising to be careful with the borrowed bike. Option (C) is a common mistake. Option (A) is a structural error. Option (D) traps the user into using the present tense.
10 (A)
Explanation: The word “promise” strictly requires “will”. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (C) is a structural error. Option (D) is a tense trap.
11 (D)
Explanation: Giving your word to bring the umbrella back. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (A) “might” is a strong distractor, but it expresses uncertainty, not a promise. Option (C) is grammatically incorrect here.
12 (C)
Explanation: Reassuring the owner that the camera will be returned in time. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error. Option (D) is a tense trap.
13 (B)
Explanation: Promising to repay a small debt. Option (C) is a common mistake. Option (D) is a structural error. Option (A) is a tense trap.
14 (D)
Explanation: “Don’t stress” sets up an assurance to return the headphones safely. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error (will + V2). Option (C) is a meaning trap.
15 (A)
Explanation: “I give you my word” means you are making a strict promise. Option (B) is a common mistake. Option (C) is a structural error. Option (D) is grammatically incorrect for future time.
16 (C)
Explanation: Promising to fill the gas tank as a condition of borrowing the car. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error. Option (D) is a grammar trap.
17 (D)
Explanation: Reassuring the lender by promising to clean the dress. Option (C) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a structural error. Option (A) is a tense trap.
18 (B)
Explanation: A strong promise to pay someone back tomorrow. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (C) is a structural error. Option (D) is a meaning trap.
19 (C)
Explanation: Guaranteeing the safety of the dog. Option (D) is a common mistake. Option (A) is a structural error. Option (B) is a tense trap.
20 (D)
Explanation: “I swear” demands the negative promise “won’t”. Option (A) is a common mistake. Option (B) is a severe structural error. Option (C) is missing the modal verb entirely.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- “Will” for Promises: In English, when you want to reassure someone, give your word, or make a promise (especially when borrowing something), you must use “Will” (or “Won’t” for negative promises). Do not use “be going to”.
- Key Phrases: Look for indicator phrases that signal a promise is being made, such as: “I promise,” “I swear,” “I give you my word,” “Don’t worry,” or “You can trust me.”
- The “Be going to” Trap: A common mistake is using “be going to” for promises. While “be going to” is used for future plans and intentions, it lacks the strong sense of guarantee and commitment that “will” provides in social interactions.
- The Structure Rule: Always follow “will” and “won’t” with a bare infinitive (the base form of the verb without “to”). Never use “will to V,” “will V-ing,” or “will V-ed.”