WILL OR GOING TO? EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
✓ Useful for TOEIC
✓ Useful for TOEFL
Both will and going to refer to the future, but they are not always interchangeable. The choice depends on whether you are describing a spontaneous decision, a prior plan, or a prediction based on visible evidence. The grammar review below explains the key differences with clear examples.
Grammar review
Will vs going to — when they differ
Will and going to are both used to talk about the future, and in many contexts either can be used. However, there are clear cases where one is more natural or grammatically preferred.
Use WILL for:
• Decisions made at the moment of speaking: “The phone is ringing — I’ll get it.”
• Promises and offers: “I will help you with that.”
• Predictions based on opinion or belief: “I think she will pass the exam.”
Use GOING TO for:
• Plans and intentions already decided before the moment of speaking: “I'm going to visit my parents this weekend.” (already planned)
• Predictions based on present evidence: “Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.”
The key test for predictions:
No visible evidence → will: “I think Brazil will win the World Cup.”
Clear present evidence → going to: “He’s not studying at all — he’s going to fail.”
Will and going to are both used to talk about the future, and in many contexts either can be used. However, there are clear cases where one is more natural or grammatically preferred.
Use WILL for:
• Decisions made at the moment of speaking: “The phone is ringing — I’ll get it.”
• Promises and offers: “I will help you with that.”
• Predictions based on opinion or belief: “I think she will pass the exam.”
Use GOING TO for:
• Plans and intentions already decided before the moment of speaking: “I'm going to visit my parents this weekend.” (already planned)
• Predictions based on present evidence: “Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.”
The key test for predictions:
No visible evidence → will: “I think Brazil will win the World Cup.”
Clear present evidence → going to: “He’s not studying at all — he’s going to fail.”
Complete each sentence using either will + verb or going to + verb.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER FUTURE TENSE EXERCISES:
Will or going to? 1 (B1/B2)
Conditional or future? 1 (I)
Conditional, future, or present? 1 (I)
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Will or going to? 1 (B1/B2)
Conditional or future? 1 (I)
Conditional, future, or present? 1 (I)
More grammar exercises
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