Future with ‘Will’ vs. Present Simple – English Grammar Exercises for A1

1 (b)

Explanation:  (b) is.

Why it’s correct: This is a general fact about the traffic at 5:00 PM. We use the Present Simple. “Traffic” is an uncountable noun, so it takes the singular verb “is”.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “are” is wrong because traffic is singular. (c) “be” is grammatically missing the conjugated form. (d) “will be” is a common mistake; students use future for a general daily fact.

2 (c)

Explanation:  (c) will be.

Why it’s correct: Making a promise or prediction about arriving soon requires the Future Simple with “will”.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “be” is a structural error (missing “will”). (b) “am” is a common mistake where learners use present simple for future events. (d) “will” is missing the main verb “be”.

3 (b)

Explanation:  (b) arrives.

Why it’s correct: “Every day” indicates a routine. For the singular subject “the bus”, we use the Present Simple “arrives”.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “is arriving” is a distractor describing an action happening right now, not a routine. (c) “will arrive” wrongly uses future tense for a daily habit. (d) “arrive” lacks the ‘s’ for the third-person singular.

4 (d)

Explanation:  (d) won’t be.

Why it’s correct: This is a future promise/prediction (“will not be” -> “won’t be”).

Mistake Analysis: (a) “don’t be” is imperative (a command), not a future statement. (b) “not will be” is a structural error (wrong word order). (c) “am not” is a common mistake using present for a future promise.

5 (a)

Explanation:  (a) is.

Why it’s correct: Stating a permanent fact about the location of the office requires Present Simple.

Mistake Analysis: (b) “will be” incorrectly uses future tense for a permanent fact. (c) “be” is un-conjugated. (d) “does” is an incorrect auxiliary verb; we need the “to be” verb to link the subject to the adjective “far”.

6 (c)

Explanation:  (c) takes.

Why it’s correct: “Usually” signals a routine or habit, requiring the Present Simple. “It” needs the singular verb “takes”.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “is taking” is present continuous, wrong for a routine. (b) “will take” wrongly uses future for a regular habit. (d) “take” is missing the ‘s’ for the third-person singular subject.

7 (b)

Explanation:  (b) will call.

Why it’s correct: This is a spontaneous decision or a promise made at the moment of speaking.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “calls” has incorrect subject-verb agreement. (c) “will calling” is a structural error (will + V-ing). (d) “call” is a common mistake (using present simple for a future promise).

8 (b)

Explanation:  (b) are.

Why it’s correct: This is a general fact. “A lot of cars” is plural, requiring “are”.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “will be” uses future for a general truth. (c) “is” is a common mistake (failing to recognize “cars” as plural). (d) “be” is structurally incorrect.

9 (d)

Explanation:  (d) will pay.

Why it’s correct: Making an offer or a spontaneous decision in the conversation needs “will”.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “pay” is a common mistake (using present simple for spontaneous future decisions). (b) “am pay” is grammatically incorrect. (c) “will pays” is a structural error (adding ‘s’ after a modal verb).

10 (b)

Explanation:  (b) doesn’t come.

Why it’s correct: A negative general fact or routine (“known fact in this town”). The train is singular, so “doesn’t” is used.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “won’t come” is a distractor; it means it will not come today, but the sentence implies a daily habit. (c) “isn’t come” is structurally wrong. (d) “don’t come” uses the wrong auxiliary for a singular subject.

11 (d)

Explanation:  (d) will drive.

Why it’s correct: A promise of a future action. We use “will” + base verb.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “drive” uses present instead of future promise. (b) “drives” is a structural error (wrong agreement with ‘I’). (c) “will driving” is grammatically incorrect.

12 (d)

Explanation:  (d) is.

Why it’s correct: A factual description of the current state.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “has” makes no sense with “red” (adjective). (b) “be” is structurally wrong. (c) “will be” refers to the future, but the sentence says “right now”.

13 (c)

Explanation:  (c) will be.

Why it’s correct: After “I think”, we generally use “will” to make a prediction about the future.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “are” is a distractor; while present can be used informally, “will be” is the correct grammatical choice for a prediction. (b) “will” is missing the main verb “be”. (d) “be” is unconjugated.

14 (d)

Explanation:  (d) will take.

Why it’s correct: A spontaneous decision made right at the moment because it’s raining.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “take” uses present simple instead of spontaneous future. (b) “will takes” is a structural error (will + verb with ‘s’). (c) “am take” is completely ungrammatical.

15 (a)

Explanation:  (a) is / will take.

Why it’s correct: The first gap is a recurring fact (“every Friday” -> is). The second gap is a decision about the future (“next week” -> will take).

Mistake Analysis: (b) “will be / take” reverses the tenses. (c) “be / will take” has a structural error in the first gap. (d) “is / takes” uses present simple for a one-time future plan.

16 (d)

Explanation:  (d) get.

Why it’s correct: This expresses a general truth or fact (Zero Conditional). We use Present Simple in both clauses when talking about facts.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “gets” is wrong because “roads” is plural. (b) “will get” is a common mistake where students use future for a general fact. (c) “are get” is a structural error.

17 (d)

Explanation:  (d) makes / will leave.

Why it’s correct: Gap 1 is a routine (“sometimes” -> makes). Gap 2 is a specific promise for the future (“tonight” -> will leave).

Mistake Analysis: (a) “make / will leaves” has structural errors (missing ‘s’ in the first, extra ‘s’ in the second). (b) “will make / leave” reverses the logic. (c) “is making / leaves” uses incorrect tenses for routine and future.

18 (b)

Explanation:  (b) will find.

Why it’s correct: A spontaneous decision reacting to the accident.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “will finding” is structurally incorrect. (c) “am find” is incorrect grammar. (d) “find” is a common mistake (using present for a spontaneous decision).

19 (c)

Explanation:  (c) always drive.

Why it’s correct: A general fact or habit. “People” is a plural noun, so it takes the base verb “drive”.

Mistake Analysis: (a) “are always drive” is grammatically incorrect. (b) “always drives” uses the singular verb form for a plural noun. (d) “will always drive” incorrectly applies the future tense to a general fact.

20 (c)

Explanation:  (c) has / will ride.

Why it’s correct: Gap 1 is a permanent fact about the city (“has”). Gap 2 is a decision/promise for tomorrow (“will ride”).

Mistake Analysis: (a) “have / will rides” contains structural errors for both verbs. (b) “has / rides” uses present simple for a future action. (d) “will have / ride” incorrectly reverses the logic.

• Present Simple for Facts & Routines: When texting about traffic, use the Present Simple to describe things that are always true or happen regularly.
• Example: The traffic is bad at 5 PM. The bus arrives late every day.
• ‘Will’ for Future Promises & Predictions: Use ‘will’ + base verb to tell your friends that you are arriving soon, or to make a prediction.
• Example: I will be there in 10 minutes. We will be late.
• ‘Will’ for Spontaneous Decisions: If you decide to do something right at the moment you are texting (because of the traffic), use ‘will’.
• Example: The road is blocked! I will take a taxi instead.
• Common Mistakes to Avoid:
• Don’t use ‘will’ for general facts. (Wrong: The traffic will be always bad here. -> Right: The traffic is always bad here.)
• Don’t use Present Simple for future promises. (Wrong: I am there in 5 minutes. -> Right: I will be there in 5 minutes.)
• Remember that after ‘will’, the verb must be in its base form, without ‘-s’, ‘-ed’, or ‘-ing’. (Wrong: I will takes… -> Right: I will take…)