Will vs. Going to vs. Present Continuous (for future) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are writing a post on social media to warn your friends and neighbors about an approaching blizzard, based on the official weather radar. Choose the correct future form (A, B, C, or D) to complete your updates naturally.
1 “URGENT: Look at this red zone on the news radar! A massive blizzard ______ our town tonight.”
(A) is hitting
(B) hits
(C) will hit
(D) is going to hit
2 “The roads will be blocked soon. Okay, I ______ to the supermarket right now to buy extra water before it’s too late.”
(A) am driving
(B) drive
(C) will drive
(D) am going to drive
3 “Hurry up if you need supplies. The local supermarket ______ at exactly 8:00 PM today.”
(A) is going to close
(B) closes
(C) will close
(D) is closing
4 “My apartment’s heating is broken, so I ______ at my sister’s house tonight. We agreed on it an hour ago.”
(A) am staying
(B) stay
(C) will stay
(D) am going stay
5 “I just stepped outside. The wind is incredibly strong and the temperature is dropping fast. The water pipes ______!”
(A) will freeze
(B) freeze
(C) are going to freeze
(D) are freezing
6 “Stay safe, everyone! I promise I ______ you all updated on this page throughout the night.”
(A) keep
(B) am keeping
(C) will keep
(D) am going to keep
7 “The mayor’s official emergency broadcast ______ at 6:30 PM on Channel 4 Make sure to watch it.”
(A) will begin
(B) begins
(C) is going to begin
(D) is beginning
8 “Does anyone need help boarding up their windows? Let me know and I ______ you immediately!”
(A) am going to help
(B) am helping
(C) help
(D) will help
9 “I checked my emergency kit this morning and the batteries are dead. I ______ some new ones online later today.”
(A) buy
(B) will buy
(C) am going to buy
(D) am buying
10 “Based on the severe wind speeds shown on this weather map, the entire city ______ power by midnight.”
(A) is going to lose
(B) loses
(C) is losing
(D) will losing
11 “Don’t try to commute tomorrow. The first morning train to the city ______ until 10:00 AM due to the snow.”
(A) isn’t going to run
(B) won’t run
(C) doesn’t run
(D) isn’t running
12 “The community leaders ______ an online safety meeting at 7:00 PM. I just got the calendar invite.”
(A) are hosting
(B) host
(C) will host
(D) will hosting
13 “Oh, I completely forgot to warn my grandparents about the storm! I ______ them right now.”
(A) am calling
(B) am going to call
(C) call
(D) will call
14 “In my personal opinion, this storm ______ the worst one we have seen in ten years.”
(A) is going to be
(B) will be
(C) is being
(D) is
15 “For parents wondering about tomorrow: the public school district ______ at 8:00 AM as usual, but will close early.”
(A) opens
(B) is opening
(C) will open
(D) is going to open
16 “Look at how fast the snow is piling up on my driveway! We ______ completely snowed in by morning.”
(A) will be
(B) are going to be
(C) are being
(D) be
17 “I made my decision yesterday. No matter what happens, I ______ my house this weekend.”
(A) won’t leave
(B) am not going to leave
(C) don’t leave
(D) am not leaving
18 “My neighbor just texted me that his roof is leaking. I ______ over there with a bucket to help him.”
(A) am going to run
(B) run
(C) will run
(D) am running
19 “We ______ an emergency generator installed tomorrow. The technicians confirmed the appointment today.”
(A) are having
(B) have
(C) will have
(D) are going have
20 “I strongly hope the emergency services ______ enough salt for the icy roads tomorrow.”
(A) are having
(B) have
(C) are going to have
(D) will have
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (D) is going to hit
Why it is correct: “Look at this red zone on the news radar!” provides clear, present physical evidence. When making a prediction based on undeniable evidence you can see right now, you MUST use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for arrangements. (B) is for timetables. (C) “will hit” is used for guesses without hard evidence.
2 (C) will drive
Why it is correct: The speaker is making a spontaneous, instant decision to solve a problem (“Okay, I will drive… right now”). Sudden reactions require “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (D) imply the speaker planned to go to the store before realizing the roads would be blocked.
3 (B) closes
Why it is correct: The closing time of a supermarket is an official, published timetable. For scheduled public hours, we use the Present Simple tense.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) do not reflect the strict timetable rule.
4 (A) am staying
Why it is correct: “We agreed on it an hour ago.” This is a confirmed, fixed arrangement involving another person (the sister). Present Continuous is the standard “diary tense”.
Distractor Analysis: (B) is a routine. (C) is for sudden decisions. (D) is grammatically incorrect.
5 (C) are going to freeze
Why it is correct: The speaker feels the strong wind and dropping temperatures (present physical evidence). Evidence-based predictions require “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) “will freeze” is a guess without direct evidence.
6 (C) will keep
Why it is correct: “I promise…” We always use “will” when making a promise.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (D) cannot be used to declare a promise.
7 (B) begins
Why it is correct: The mayor’s broadcast on Channel 4 follows a scheduled TV timetable. Present Simple is used.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (C), and (D) ignore the timetable rule.
8 (D) will help
Why it is correct: The speaker is making a spontaneous offer to help anyone in need. Offers of assistance always take “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) and (B) imply prior planning before knowing who needs help.
9 (C) am going to buy
Why it is correct: The speaker checked the batteries “this morning” and formed a personal intention to buy new ones later. For personal plans formed before the moment of speaking, use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is a routine. (B) is for instant decisions made right now.
10 (A) is going to lose
Why it is correct: “Based on the severe wind speeds shown on this weather map…” The map acts as concrete present evidence. Predictions based on evidence take “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (D) is grammatically incorrect (“will losing”). (B) is a routine.
11 (C) doesn’t run
Why it is correct: A train schedule (even a cancellation or a delayed start) is an official public timetable. Present Simple is required.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (D) do not apply to fixed public transport schedules.
12 (A) are hosting
Why it is correct: “I just got the calendar invite.” This is a booked, confirmed arrangement with other people. Present Continuous is used.
Distractor Analysis: (B) is a routine. (C) is for sudden decisions.
13 (D) will call
Why it is correct: “Oh, I completely forgot…” The speaker suddenly remembers and makes an instant decision to call right now.
Distractor Analysis: (B) “am going to call” implies they intended to call, but the “forgot” part triggers an immediate “will” reaction to fix it.
14 (B) will be
Why it is correct: “In my personal opinion…” Predictions based purely on opinions, thoughts, or feelings (without concrete radar evidence in this specific sentence) use “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) would be used if pointing at the radar. (D) is a present fact.
15 (A) opens
Why it is correct: A public school’s opening time is a fixed, official schedule. Present Simple is used.
Distractor Analysis: (B), (C), and (D) are incorrect for official timetables.
16 (B) are going to be
Why it is correct: “Look at how fast the snow is piling up!” This is undeniable present physical evidence. Evidence-based predictions use “going to”.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for guesses without evidence.
17 (B) am not going to leave
Why it is correct: “I made my decision yesterday.” This is a firm personal intention established before speaking.
Distractor Analysis: (A) is for sudden decisions. (C) is a routine.
18 (C) will run
Why it is correct: The speaker reads the text message and reacts instantly with an offer to help (“I will run over there”).
Distractor Analysis: (A) implies they planned to run over there before the neighbor even texted!
19 (A) are having
Why it is correct: “The technicians confirmed the appointment today.” This is a confirmed, booked arrangement involving a company. Present Continuous is the standard “diary tense”.
Distractor Analysis: (C) is for spontaneous choices. (B) is a routine.
20 (D) will have
Why it is correct: “I strongly hope…” Wishes, hopes, and expectations about the future generally take “will”.
Distractor Analysis: (A), (B), and (C) do not grammatically align with expressing a hope.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 “Be Going To” for Evidence-Based Predictions:
- Use Be going to when you can physically see, hear, or read proof right now that an event is inevitable. It makes your warning highly credible.
- Keywords: Look at this map, Check the radar, The wind is so strong…
- Example: “Look at the radar! The storm is going to hit us.”
2 “Be Going To” for Personal Intentions:
- Use this for plans you decided on before you spoke.
- Example: “I decided this morning. I am going to buy extra water.”
3 “Will” for Instant Decisions & Opinions:
- Use Will for spontaneous reactions, offers of help, promises, and personal opinions (without hard evidence).
- Example: “You need help? I will come over.” (Offer). / “I think it will be a bad storm.” (Opinion).
4 The Timetable vs. Arrangement Rule:
- Present Simple (Timetable): Official schedules you cannot change. (“The supermarket closes at 8 PM.”)
- Present Continuous (Arrangement): Confirmed plans with other people in your diary. (“I am staying at my sister’s house.”)