Future: Will vs. Be going to – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are at a souvenir shop with a friend, hesitating between items, and making a final decision based on your prediction of the recipient’s reaction.
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to fill in the blank. Pay close attention to the context: you are expressing your personal opinion or guess about how someone else will react to a gift.
1 “Look at this beautiful blue scarf. I think Mary ______ it.”
(A) will to love
(B) is going to love
(C) will love
(D) loves
2 “He drinks coffee every single morning, so I am sure he ______ this ceramic mug.”
(A) will use
(B) will uses
(C) is going to use
(D) use
3 “This puzzle looks quite difficult. I think your brother ______ it very challenging.”
(A) finding
(B) will find
(C) is going to find
(D) will finding
4 “I am positive my mom ______ this silver necklace to the party.”
(A) wear
(B) will wear
(C) is going to wear
(D) will wears
5 “They both look nice. Do you think she ______ the red notebook or the green one?”
(A) is going to prefer
(B) prefers
(C) will prefers
(D) will prefer
6 “I know David loves music, so I am certain he ______ these wireless headphones.”
(A) will appreciate
(B) is going to appreciate
(C) will to appreciate
(D) appreciating
7 “This painting is gorgeous, but I don’t think they ______ enough space for it in their apartment.”
(A) have
(B) will having
(C) will have
(D) are going to have
8 “Let’s buy him the funny socks. I am absolutely sure he ______ when he opens the box.”
(A) is going to laugh
(B) will laugh
(C) laughs
(D) will laughed
9 “If we get her this Italian cookbook, I think she ______ very happy.”
(A) is
(B) is going to be
(C) will being
(D) will be
10 “This leather wallet is a bit expensive, but I bet it ______ for a very long time.”
(A) lasts
(B) will last
(C) will lasts
(D) is going to last
11 “I am not sure if we should buy the chocolate. I believe he ______ the cookies more.”
(A) will like
(B) is going to like
(C) likes
(D) will to like
12 “Let’s get the board game instead. I believe the whole family ______ playing it together.”
(A) is going to enjoy
(B) enjoys
(C) will enjoy
(D) will enjoys
13 “This jacket is very bright and flashy. Do you think he ______ it outside?”
(A) wearing
(B) will wearing
(C) is going to wear
(D) will wear
14 “She already has a lot of pens on her desk. I really doubt she ______ another one.”
(A) will need
(B) is going to need
(C) needs
(D) will needs
15 “I know you like the large vase, but I strongly believe she ______ it in her modern living room.”
(A) won’t put
(B) isn’t going to put
(C) doesn’t put
(D) don’t will put
16 “This silver ring is stunning, but I am afraid it ______ her properly.”
(A) doesn’t fit
(B) won’t fit
(C) isn’t going to fit
(D) won’t to fit
17 “She is very picky about perfumes. I highly doubt she ______ this strong, floral scent.”
(A) is going to appreciate
(B) appreciates
(C) will appreciate
(D) will appreciates
18 “If we buy him these front-row concert tickets, I am convinced he ______ his mind!”
(A) will losing
(B) is going to lose
(C) loses
(D) will lose
19 “I think the glass figure is too fragile as a gift. I bet it ______ on the way to her house.”
(A) will breaks
(B) will break
(C) is going to break
(D) breaks
20 “Let’s choose the handmade soap instead. I am confident she ______ the natural ingredients.”
(A) is going to value
(B) is valuing
(C) will value
(D) will valued
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C)
Explanation: “I think” shows a subjective prediction, so “will” is correct. Option (B) is a Common Mistake; learners often use “be going to” for all future actions, but it requires physical evidence, not just a personal opinion. Option (A) is a Structural Error (will + to V). Option (D) is a Meaning Trap (Present Simple doesn’t express a future prediction).
2 (A)
Explanation: “I am sure” introduces a subjective belief about his reaction. Option (C) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Structural Error (adding ‘s’ to the verb after will). Option (D) is a tense trap.
3 (B)
Explanation: Predicting the brother’s opinion requires “will”. Option (C) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error (will + V-ing). Option (A) is grammatically incorrect without a “to be” verb.
4 (B)
Explanation: Being “positive” about her future choice is a subjective guess. Option (C) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error. Option (A) is a meaning trap.
5 (D)
Explanation: Asking for someone’s prediction (“Do you think…”) also uses “will”. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Structural Error. Option (B) is a meaning trap.
6 (A)
Explanation: “I am certain” dictates a strong personal prediction. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Structural Error (“to appreciate”). Option (D) is a tense trap.
7 (C)
Explanation: “I don’t think” introduces a negative subjective prediction. Option (D) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Structural Error. Option (A) is a meaning trap.
8 (B)
Explanation: Predicting his laughter is based on your knowledge of him, not visible physical evidence. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error (will + past verb). Option (C) is a tense trap.
9 (D)
Explanation: “I think she will be” is the standard structure for a predicted emotional reaction. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Structural Error. Option (A) is a meaning trap.
10 (B)
Explanation: “I bet” introduces a guess about the wallet’s durability. Option (D) is a Common Mistake. Option (C) is a Structural Error. Option (A) is a meaning trap.
11 (A)
Explanation: “I believe” is a classic trigger for a subjective “will” prediction. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error. Option (C) is a meaning trap.
12 (C)
Explanation: Predicting the family’s enjoyment based on personal belief. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error. Option (B) is a tense trap.
13 (D)
Explanation: Asking for a subjective prediction. Option (C) is a Common Mistake. Option (B) is a Structural Error. Option (A) is grammatically incorrect alone.
14 (A)
Explanation: “I doubt” means “I don’t think,” triggering the use of “will” for predictions. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error. Option (C) is a meaning trap.
15 (A)
Explanation: “Strongly believe” with a negative outcome requires “won’t” (will not). Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a severe Structural Error (“don’t will”). Option (C) is a tense trap.
16 (B)
Explanation: “I am afraid” implies a worried prediction about the future. Option (C) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error. Option (A) is a tense trap.
17 (C)
Explanation: A personal guess about her picky taste. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error. Option (B) is a meaning trap.
18 (D)
Explanation: “I am convinced” introduces an enthusiastic personal prediction. Option (B) is a Common Mistake. Option (A) is a Structural Error. Option (C) is a tense trap.
19 (B)
Explanation: “I bet” introduces a subjective fear about the item breaking. Option (C) is a Common Mistake (unless the vase is already slipping from your hands, you don’t use “going to”). Option (A) is a Structural Error. Option (D) is a tense trap.
20 (C)
Explanation: “I am confident” signals a personal prediction of her appreciation. Option (A) is a Common Mistake. Option (D) is a Structural Error (will + V-ed). Option (B) is a meaning trap.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Subjective Predictions: When you make a guess about the future based on your personal opinion, knowledge of a person, or feelings—rather than hard, physical evidence—you must use “Will”.
- Trigger Words: Look for phrases that signal an opinion or belief: “I think,” “I don’t think,” “I am sure,” “I believe,” “I am confident,” “I bet,” or “I doubt.” These phrases almost always pair with “will”.
- The “Be going to” Trap: A very common mistake is using “be going to” when guessing someone’s reaction to a gift (e.g., “I think she is going to like it”). “Be going to” sounds too factual; it should be reserved for predictions with physical proof (e.g., looking at a dark sky and saying “It is going to rain”).
- The Structure Rule: “Will” (or the negative “Won’t”) must be followed by a bare infinitive (the base form of the verb). Never use “will to + verb,” “will + verb-s,” or “will + verb-ing”.